Bradley Wiggins is facing a huge financial setback. In June, the court declared the former rider bankrupt and ordered him to refund 1.15 million euros to his creditors. However, liquidator MHA revised this amount to 2.4 million, twice as much, based on new data.
The misery began for Wiggins when his companies, Wiggins Rights Limited and New Team Cycling Limited, went bankrupt. The victims then initially demanded over 700,000 English pounds, which quickly escalated to 1 million pounds. Wiggins could not pay it and lost all his assets. His lawyer, Alan Sellers, painted an alarming picture in The Daily Mail. "It's a mess. He has lost everything, but everything. His house, his other home in Majorca, his savings, and his investments... He has no penny left. It's unfortunate. I don't know where he slept last night, and I don't know where he will sleep tonight or tomorrow. He has no permanent address."
Months later, the former Tour winner's financial worries are even worse. The doubling of creditors' claims is based on the records of Wiggins Rights Limited and New Team Cycling. It also spoke with key stakeholders. Georgina Eason is handling the bankruptcy on behalf of liquidator MHA: "As a result of these investigations, I have been able to substantiate the increased claim within the Director's [Wiggins's] bankruptcy proceedings," Eason told Cycling Weekly on Thursday.
Wiggins is not planning to pay the amount owed overnight. Accordingly, he previously filed a lawsuit. Last September, he told VTM News about the issue: "It's a long story. Many people have played a dirty game with me. But I will get everything back. A lot is happening," he said combatively.
In addition to the current financial headaches, a candid Wiggins also shared earlier this year the misery he experienced in his youth that allowed him to find very little pleasure in his career as a cyclist. For example, he was sexually abused by his coach for several years in the past. In the same interview with VTM, Wiggins revealed that things have improved mentally. "Actually, I feel very well now. I'm in a healthier place mentally. I had lost my life a bit, but now I'm doing well. I'm on the way back. I'm glad I'm alive because I've had dark days. There was a lot of pressure on my shoulders. And a lot was going on in my head."