Bradley Wiggins
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| Bradley Wiggins | |
|---|---|
| Name | Bradley Wiggins |
| Fullname | Bradley Marc Wiggins |
| Nickname | Wiggo |
| Birth date | 28 April 1980 |
| Birth place | Ghent, Belgium |
| Nationality | British |
| Height | 1.90 m |
| Weight | 69 kg |
| Discipline | Road & Track |
| Role | Rider |
| Ridertype | Time trialist |
| Amateuryears | 1998–2001 |
| Amateurteam | VC Roubaix |
| Proyears | 2002–2016 |
| Proteam | Linda McCartney (stagiaire), Française des Jeux, Crédit Agricole, Team Sky, WIGGINS |
| Majorwins | Grand Tours * Tour de France ** General classification (2012) ** 2 individual stages (2012) * Paris–Nice (2012) * Critérium du Dauphiné (2011, 2012) * Tour of Britain (2013) * Tour de Romandie (2012) * World Time Trial Championships (2014) |
| Medaltemplates | Men's cycling Great Britain Olympics Gold, 2004 Athens, Individual pursuit Gold, 2008 Beijing, Individual pursuit Gold, 2008 Beijing, Team pursuit Gold, 2012 London, Time trial Silver, 2004 Athens, Team pursuit Bronze, 2004 Athens, Madison World Championships Gold, 2003 Stuttgart, Individual pursuit Gold, 2007 Palma, Individual pursuit Gold, 2007 Palma, Team pursuit Gold, 2008 Manchester, Team pursuit Gold, 2008 Manchester, Madison Silver, 2000 Manchester, Team pursuit Silver, 2009 Pruszków, Team pursuit Bronze, 2001 Antwerp, Team pursuit |
Bradley Wiggins is a retired British professional road and track cyclist, celebrated as one of the most decorated athletes in the history of British cycling. He achieved global fame by winning the Tour de France in 2012, becoming the first Briton to secure the prestigious yellow jersey. His career is equally distinguished by an unprecedented haul of eight Olympic medals, including five golds, across four consecutive Olympic Games from Athens 2004 to London 2012.
Early life and amateur career
Born in Ghent, Belgium, to an Australian father and a British mother, he moved to London at a young age after his father's departure. His sporting lineage was significant, as his father, Gary Wiggins, was a professional track cyclist, and his mother's father was a noted amateur boxer. He joined the Archer Road Club in London and showed early promise, winning his first national title as a junior. His amateur development was furthered with a stint at the renowned VC Roubaix club in France, a traditional breeding ground for cycling talent, before he earned a place on the British Cycling Olympic Academy Programme under the guidance of coaches like Simon Jones.
Professional cycling career
He turned professional in 2002 with the Française des Jeux team, later moving to Crédit Agricole. His early professional years were defined by his prowess on the track, but he steadily developed as a road time trialist and stage race contender. A pivotal move came in 2010 when he joined the new Team Sky, a British-based UCI WorldTeam with the ambition of winning the Tour de France with a British rider. Under the directorship of Dave Brailsford and performance director Rod Ellingworth, he honed his stage racing capabilities, winning major week-long races like the Critérium du Dauphiné and Paris–Nice.
Olympic success
His Olympic journey began at the Athens 2004 Games, where he won gold in the individual pursuit, silver in the team pursuit, and bronze in the Madison with Rob Hayles. He dominated the Beijing 2008 Games, securing gold in both the individual and team pursuit events, the latter alongside Ed Clancy, Paul Manning, and Geraint Thomas. At his home London 2012 Games, just days after his Tour de France triumph, he won gold in the road time trial on Hampton Court, cementing his status as a national icon.
Tour de France victory
The 2012 season represented the peak of his road career. After winning the Critérium du Dauphiné and the Tour de Romandie, he entered the Tour de France as the favorite for Team Sky. He seized the yellow jersey after the first long time trial in Besançon and defended it relentlessly through the mountains, supported by a powerful team including Chris Froome and Michael Rogers. His victory in the final time trial in Chartres sealed his historic overall win, a landmark moment for British cycling celebrated with a victory parade on The Mall.
Post-cycling career and personal life
He retired from professional cycling in 2016 after competing for his own development team, Team WIGGINS, and a final Olympic appearance at Rio 2016. Post-retirement, he has worked as a television pundit for Eurosport and BBC Sport, published an autobiography, and been involved in various charitable endeavors. His personal life has seen periods of media scrutiny, and he has been open about struggles with depression and the psychological adjustment after his sporting career. He was appointed a Knight Bachelor in the 2013 New Year Honours.
Legacy and honours
He is widely regarded as a transformative figure who bridged the success of British Cycling on the track with historic achievements on the road. His Tour de France victory inspired a generation and paved the way for further British success in the event. His eight Olympic medals make him the most decorated British Olympian of all time, a record he jointly held with Chris Hoy until being surpassed. His honours include the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award in 2012, a knighthood, and induction into the British Cycling Hall of Fame. The Bradley Wiggins Way, a cycling and walking path in Lancashire, is named in his honour.
Category:British male cyclists Category:Olympic cyclists for Great Britain Category:Tour de France winners