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Sir Bradley Wiggins leaves door open to extending career after Ghent Six Day win

Wiggins and Mark Cavendish snatch dramatic late victory in what was billed as 36-year-old's final race

Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish claimed a dramatic Ghent Six Day victory, in what was billed as Wiggins’ final ever race, but the eight-time Olympic medallist did not rule out extending his career further.

The British duo, who were crowned world Madison champions in London in February, left it late to gain the decisive lap in the final event of the iconic Six Day race, and Wiggins admitted it was an incredible way to sign off their partnership.

An historic night for Brad & Cav – celebrations will be big in Ghent tonight! ????????????#Wiggins

A photo posted by Team #WIGGINS (@wigginsofficial) on Nov 20, 2016 at 12:23pm PST

But, while confirming it would be his last race with the Manxman, the 36-year-old admitted he may have second thoughts about ending his career just yet.

“This will be the last time we race together for sure,” he said, after victory in the city in which he was born. “[But] maybe not my last individually.

“I’m not sure. I just want to enjoy this moment. I still have really good legs, so I don’t want to say it’s 100 per cent the end, and then make an announcement next week.

“At the moment, I’m just going to enjoy today.”

Racing in the rainbow bands of world champions, Wiggins and Cavendish looked set to finish third before the former’s stinging, unanswered attack gained them a dramatic late lap.

It was enough to beat Belgian duo Kenny de Ketele and Moreno de Pauw into second place, with Elia Viviani and Iljo Keisse taking third – despite both pairings having comfortably earned more points than the Brits.

It means both men signed off incredible seasons with victory on the track, having kickstarted their campaigns with their Madison win at the worlds.

Wiggins went on to win Olympic team pursuit gold at Rio 2016, while Cavendish claimed omnium silver – his first ever Olympic medal – bookended by four Tour de France stage wins and a day in the yellow jersey, and silver in the world road race.

Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish won Madison gold in London – replicating their 2008 win – before winning the Ghent Six Day in the rainbow jerseys (pic: Simon Wilkinson/SWpix)

And Wiggins hailed their partnership, which also saw them crowned Madison world champions in 2008, and included memorable performances on the road, such as Wiggins – in the yellow jersey – leading out Cavendish, in the rainbow jersey, on the Champs-Elysees on the final day of the 2012 Tour de France.

“We’re brothers,” he said. “We have a good time together, and we’d do anything for each other.

“We fight and bicker, but we know each other’s strengths. We’ve raced together for 12-13 years now. It’s been one of the great partnerships.”