Of course, when the 32 year old Bradley Wiggins completed his time trial event in characteristic fashion yesterday, I was as pleased as the next man, but probably for different reasons.
The fact that he is now our most successful Olympiad with seven medals to his name spanning three different events over three games is amazing - and he has already remarked about getting a fifth gold in Rio which seems very possible.
More importantly is the effect that becoming the first Britain ever to win the coveted General Classification yellow jersey in the Tour de France and now the gold medal in the time trial, is having on the UK's attitude to cycling. Already, sales of cycles and cycling accessories have risen as people start to get onto two wheels which can only be a positive thing. Better cycling facilities and hopefully safer cycling routes will follow.
No, for me the best thing about Bradley's win is that he has retained his irreverent view of the powers that be and has remained unswayed by the pressure from his sponsors. He has always been outspoken against doping in the cycling fraternity and his criticism of established cyclists who fail drugs test has not been silenced by sponsor or media pressure as it so often is. On the night on his first yellow jersey win this year, the press asked him some doping related questions which led to him firing a string of expletives at the reporter responsible leaving everyone in no doubt that he is not swayed by the pressure to say the right thing.
When he eventually won the Tour, he did not face the cameras and the 'dippy president', instead he turned around and spoke to the British crowd, joking about drawing the raffle tickets but actually showing his great appreciation of their support.
Bradley Wiggins, at last, a very British champion!
The fact that he is now our most successful Olympiad with seven medals to his name spanning three different events over three games is amazing - and he has already remarked about getting a fifth gold in Rio which seems very possible.
More importantly is the effect that becoming the first Britain ever to win the coveted General Classification yellow jersey in the Tour de France and now the gold medal in the time trial, is having on the UK's attitude to cycling. Already, sales of cycles and cycling accessories have risen as people start to get onto two wheels which can only be a positive thing. Better cycling facilities and hopefully safer cycling routes will follow.
No, for me the best thing about Bradley's win is that he has retained his irreverent view of the powers that be and has remained unswayed by the pressure from his sponsors. He has always been outspoken against doping in the cycling fraternity and his criticism of established cyclists who fail drugs test has not been silenced by sponsor or media pressure as it so often is. On the night on his first yellow jersey win this year, the press asked him some doping related questions which led to him firing a string of expletives at the reporter responsible leaving everyone in no doubt that he is not swayed by the pressure to say the right thing.
When he eventually won the Tour, he did not face the cameras and the 'dippy president', instead he turned around and spoke to the British crowd, joking about drawing the raffle tickets but actually showing his great appreciation of their support.
Bradley Wiggins, at last, a very British champion!
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