Recently retired cyclist Bradley Wiggins left management agency XIX Entertainment to "join the likes" of multiple-time Olympic Gold Medalist Mo Farah and Wimbledon champion Andy Murray on the client list of M&C Saatchi Merlin, according to Simon MacMichael of ROAD. The business describes itself as the "creative talent management" arm of the global M&C Saatchi advertising business. The 38-year-old, who said last year that he "did not want to be part of the celebrity circuit following retirement," appears to have "rethought those plans and is currently filming for the forthcoming series of the Channel 4 winter sports reality TV show The Jump." Wiggins said, "Having now retired, the reach into broadcasting and developing my own brand will be very important" (ROAD, 1/9). CYCLING NEWS reported XIX Management is owned by Simon Fuller. The agency reportedly "now only has David Beckham on its books" after the departure of Mercedes F1 driver Lewis Hamilton and Murray. Little has been seen of Wiggins since he "raced for the last time at the Gent Six in early December." He announced his retirement in a Facebook message on Dec. 28. It is believed he is "already in training for The Jump" (CYCLING NEWS, 1/9). In London, Charles Sale reported Wiggins' new agency faces a "major challenge" restoring his image, "such is the spotlight" on his former cycling team Sky and his own use of TUEs (Therapeutic Use Exemptions). It is "likely" Wiggins' new advisors "will position him to make the most of his Olympic achievements as Team GB’s most decorated athlete." Wiggins reportedly "felt XIX have not done enough to support him during his travails" (DAILY MAIL, 1/8).
