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'DEEP SADNESS'

British Olympic cycling legend Sir Bradley Wiggins and wife Cath announce they are separating after 16 years of marriage

CYCLING legend Sir Bradley Wiggins and his wife Cath have announced they are separating after sixteen years of marriage.

The British Olympic star tweeted the sad news of the split last night and said their two children remained "a priority".

 Bradley Wiggins of Team GB and wife Cath pose for photographs after he won gold at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games
Bradley Wiggins of Team GB and wife Cath pose for photographs after he won gold at the Rio 2016 Olympic GamesCredit: Getty Images - Getty
 Sir Bradley celebrates winning the Madison 2016 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in London
Sir Bradley celebrates winning the Madison 2016 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in LondonCredit: Rex Features
 The couple first met in 1997 and have two children together
The couple first met in 1997 and have two children togetherCredit: Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be publish
 The couple announced the news on Twitter last night
The couple announced the news on Twitter last night

Sir Bradley tweeted: "It is with deep sadness my wife Cath and I have decided to separate. Our two children remain our priority and we ask for privacy at this time. Brad & Cath."

The couple, who first met in 1997, have two children together and live in a plush 1970s barn conversion in the scenic Trough of Boland, north of Preston.

The cycling star enjoyed huge success in his sporting career, bursting into the limelight after becoming the first Brit to win the Tour de France in 2012.

In 2016, he won gold at the Rio Olympics and became Britain's most decorated Olympian with eight medals at the tournament.

'LIVING HELL'

But in 2018, doping allegations were made against him which he said put a huge strain on his marriage - forcing his wife to check into rehab.

The allegations were dropped after UK Anti-Doping were unable to find evidence that Wiggins possessed any banned substances after 14 months of investigation.

He told the Guardian the investigation had made his life a "living hell".

He said: "People have free rein to put their own facts in place. Kids read headlines and their parents say things about you.

"The whole thing becomes an uncontrolled trial by media. In any other court it would be thrown out because the media have skewed the facts.

"You watch your family suffer, and it's terrible. It nearly killed my wife. She ended up in rehab over it. I'm at home having to deal with it."

Sir Bradley is now studying to be a social worker after moving on from his cycling career.

He told the Big Issue in 2019: "I don't give a s**t about my cycling career now, I'm just detached from it, I don't want to live off the back of it."

The cyclist was knighted in 2013, and also won BBC Sports Personality of the Year the year before.

 In 2016, Wiggins won gold at the Rio Olympics and became Britain's most decorated Olympian with eight medals at the tournament
In 2016, Wiggins won gold at the Rio Olympics and became Britain's most decorated Olympian with eight medals at the tournamentCredit: Rex Features
 Bradley with wife Catherine Wiggins at the GQ Men of the Year Awards 2012
Bradley with wife Catherine Wiggins at the GQ Men of the Year Awards 2012Credit: Getty Images - Getty
 Bradley Wiggins celebrating his win in the Tour de France in 2012, wrapped in his national flag
Bradley Wiggins celebrating his win in the Tour de France in 2012, wrapped in his national flagCredit: AFP - Getty
 Doping allegations put a huge strain on Wiggins marriage and career, he has revealed
Doping allegations put a huge strain on Wiggins marriage and career, he has revealedCredit: Getty Images - Getty

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