Great Britain’s now most decorated Olympian has stormed home into Hampton Court, following a stamina sapping 44km route across London.
A Londoner at heart, Bradley Wiggins began his love affair with cycling growing up around the Hearn Hill Velodrome. He started off his glittering career as a track cyclist, specialising in the pursuit and Madison events, before moving onto road racing to continue racking up personal and team accolades.
Bradley’s personal achievements make up an inspirational list following his historic 2012 Tour de France win, becoming the first Briton to do so. Wiggins won his first Olympic bronze medal at Sydney 2000, a further three at Athens 2004 and two golds in Beijing 2008 to make British cycling the envy of the world following his sensational performance at London 2012.
Bradley’s teammate, Chris Froome, has also brought home a bronze medal in the Time trial to take a 1st and 3rd Team GB podium finish after just missing out on silver, providing Team GB with a huge morale boost and the British public a “London 2012 memory to share”.
Liz Nicholl, CEO UK Sport “Congratulations to Bradley and Chris for their success in today’s Time Trial, what an incredible year for Brad and for British Cycling.”
The prominence of British cycling around the world has matched the rise in investment from the National Lottery with over £26 million into Cycling alone over the last four years.
Cycling has been one of the great British sporting success stories over the last decade with their fourteen medals in Beijing four years ago, including eight golds, was an extraordinary performance by the team and a reflection of UK Sport's significant investment into the sport over the last fifteen years.
Currently there are 85 athletes on British Cycling's World Class Performance Programme, including multiple Olympic champions Sir Chris Hoy and Bradley Wiggins CBE. Both athletes have been on the Programme since UK Sport was founded in 1997.