Cycling memorabilia hunters will be devastated to hear they've missed a roaring bargain, with Bradley Wiggins’ 2000 Sydney Olympics bike, raced at the Madison event, selling for only £515 on eBay.
However, it will be of some comfort to hear it went to someone with a direct connection to the bike.
The bike in question is a Terry Dolan track machine in size 62cm to suit the lofty 6ft 3in Wiggins.
Speaking to BikeRadar, the seller said the bike was originally passed down through a family in Torquay, with the legend being that it had once been raced by a young Wiggins.
Dolan frames were a common sight beneath British Cycling riders in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Although better known for his time aboard Pinarello bikes at Team Sky, Wiggins – and his contemporary, Mark Cavendish – was still riding Dolan bikes at least as late as 2007 at Six Day events.
This bike is likely a much earlier model, however – but exactly how old?
We spoke to Stephen Dolan – CEO of Dolan Bikes and son of the eponymous Terry – who confirmed the bike was “Brad’s spare bike from the Sydney Olympics in 2000”.
“We supplied custom-built aluminium frames to both Brad and Rob Hayles to ride in the Madison event at the Olympics, where they finished 4th,” he added.
Indeed, a search of the Getty Images library unearthed a photo of Wiggins riding the bike at the gold-medal event. The race – the first time the Madison was contested at the Olympics – was won by Australia’s Scott McGrory and Brett Aitken.
The frame is typical of the time, constructed using chunky 7003 Dedacciai alloy tubing. It’s paired with an Alpina fork and Campagnolo headset. The alloy Campagnolo Pista wheels and finishing kit look to be later additions.
Described by the seller as having only cosmetic marks, the bike still looks resplendent in a handsome shade of blue, with cream panels bearing the Dolan name.
After confirming the frame’s provenance, Dolan decided to buy it back for himself: “I have Rob Hayles’ frame here, so I bought it to match the bikes up.”
Dolan intends to source the original parts and will renovate the bike for display at the brand's showroom in Burscough, Lancashire.
This humble frame will be in good company, sitting along bikes from "Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish, Chris Hoy, David Millar and Chris Boardman also currently on display."
