Peter Kennaugh and Gerraint Thomas out of the Commonwealth Games
On Thursday, four Team Sky cyclists officially withdrew from their national teams for the 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games, scheduled to begin on October 3. Peter Kennaugh, of the Isle of Man, was the first to drop out, soon followed by Gerraint Thomas
of Wales, then by Ian Stannard and Ben Swift of England.
"Obviously with what's been going on in the news, we've been made to think long and hard about going out there," said Kennaugh. "It's not just the structures collapsing and the problems with the athlete's villages; for me, it's the health issues.”
All four cyclists are currently competing in the British Track Championships. Kennaugh won the Men’s scratch race on Thursday, and Thomas, winner of the British Road Championships, finished in third.
“The jersey though doesn't make up for G[Gerraint Thomas] beating me at the road nationals, but it is sort of halfway - this will have to do for this year!" said Kennaugh of his win.
The decision to withdraw comes after a long-list of unresolved issues with the games, including health and sanitation in New Delhi, serious infrastructure failures, including the collapse of a bridge to the main stadium, and the shooting of two tourists
this past weekend. The riders have expressed that the decisions to leave were made personally, not as a recommendation from Team Sky, a fact that team principal Dave Brailsford confirmed.
“Given the situation they have found themselves in with the Commonwealth Games, nobody would blame the athletes for staying away, but there is no instruction from Team Sky on this issue,” said Brailsford. “We will support them in whatever decision they make."
The UK teams from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have already delayed their departure to India until they can be assured that the village and living quarters are up to par, though the team from the Isle of Man plans to follow-through with their scheduled
departure this weekend.
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