Glasgow 2014: Sir Bradley Wiggins weighs up track return

Sir Bradley Wiggins won the Tour de France in 2012

Sir Bradley Wiggins could return to the track at the Commonwealth Games if he does not compete at the Tour de France.

The 2012 Tour de France winner, 34, will compete in the road race event in Glasgow after being named in England's 31-strong cycling team.

But he is also keen on getting back on the track as preparation for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Team Sky are set to name their Tour de France riders next week but Wiggins claims he will not be taking part.

Shane Sutton, British Cycling technical director and head of Team England's Commonwealth Cycling team, wants Wiggins to take to the track in Glasgow alongside fellow Olympic champion Ed Clancy.

"We don't know if Brad will be available at this point. The process of selection by Sir Dave Brailsford at Sky hasn't finished yet," Sutton said.

"He's done a bit of track work because he's stated clearly his ambition is to link up with Ed and the boys and win a gold medal in Rio.

"If he misses the tour then we'd welcome him back [to the track]. We know he can step up alongside Ed and do the job."

Wiggins has won three Olympic gold medals on the track. He won the individual pursuit at Athens 2004 and both the individual and team pursuit at the Beijing Games in 2008.

Clancy, a member of Britain's gold medal-winning Olympic team pursuit squad in 2008 and 2012, said of Wiggins's possible track comeback: "There is a chance. I think it's an option in Brad's mind and in the minds of people around here.

"Should he not get selected for the Tour de France, then I think he'll start considering his options."

Olympic champions Laura Trott, Joanna Rowsell, Dani King, Clancy, Steven Burke, Jason Kenny and Philip Hindes have also been selected in England's Commonwealth Games squad.

The Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome will host the track cycling events at Glasgow 2014.

Para-sport cycling makes its debut with 2014 two-time world champion Sophie Thornhill named in the tandem.

Team England Chef de Mission Jan Paterson said: "This cycling team is undoubtedly the best we have ever seen selected for Team England.

"To have eight Olympic Champions line up alongside previous Commonwealth Games medallists and some supremely talented younger athletes is genuinely exciting for us."

The women's track endurance team includes Lizzie Armitstead, a silver medallist in Delhi in 2010, who secured the national road race title in Scotland last year.

"I won the British national road race in Glasgow which took in part of the Commonwealth Games course. The crowds were amazing then so I'm sure this summer will be something else," said Armitstead, 25.

The track events at the Commonwealth Games will take place at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome from 24-27 July.

England cycling team

Women's track endurance:

Lizzie Armitstead, Dani King, Joanna Rowsell, Laura Trott

Men's track endurance:

Steven Burke, Ed Clancy, Jon Dibben, Andy Tennant

Women's track sprint:

Dannielle Khan, Jess Varnish, Vicky Williamson

Men's track sprint:

Matt Crampton, Kian Emadi, Philip Hindes, Jason Kenny

Para cycling tandem:

Sophie Thornhill, Helen Scott (pilot)

Women's mountain bike:

Alice Barnes, Beth Crumpton, Annie Last

Men's mountain bike:

David Fletcher, Paul Oldham

Women's road:

Lizzie Armitstead, Hannah Barnes, Lucy Garner, Dani King, Emma Pooley, Joanna Rowsell, Laura Trott

Men's road:

Stephen Cummings, Jon Dibben, Alex Dowsett, Tom Moses, Ian Stannard, Andy Tennant, Scott Thwaites, Sir Bradley Wiggins