British cyclists Wiggins, Cavendish ready for Olympic start

LONDON (AP) -- International Cycling Union President Pat McQuaid says "the stars have aligned" for his sport - and the surging British team - to give the London Olympics a spectacular start Saturday.

McQuaid says an Olympics record crowd of a million people will line the road-race route to see if Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins can help world champion Mark Cavendish become the first London Games gold medalist.

Wiggins will then likely start favorite next Wednesday for the time trial.

McQuaid tells The Associated Press "it's all coming together at just the right time" for cycling.

The Irish official acknowledges a Cavendish-Wiggins victory double "would be great ... because it's another edition to this fairy-tale story" in British cycling.