Bradley Wiggins of Great Britain cycles through Esher during the Men's
Bradley Wiggins - Tour of Britain - Stage Five
Bradley Marc Wiggins, CBE (born 28 April 1980) is a British professional track and road racing cyclist, riding for the UCI ProTeam Team Sky. Wiggins won a bronze medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics, three additional medals at the 2004 Summer Olympics, two golds at the 2008 Summer Olympics and one gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Initially viewed as a time trial specialist and a rouleur, Wiggins showed his ability in stage races when he came in fourth at the 2009 Tour de France, then the joint highest placed finish by a British rider in Tour history. Ten days later, Wiggins won the silver medal in the time trial at the 2011 UCI Road World Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark. In 2012, he won the 2012 Paris–Nice, the 2012 Tour de Romandie, and the 2012 Critérium du Dauphiné, before winning the Tour de France and taking gold in the time trial at the Olympics.
Wiggins was born in 1980 in Ghent, Belgium, where his Australian father, Gary Wiggins, an endurance cyclist, was based. At age 20, Wiggins won a bronze medal for Britain in the team pursuit at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.
Wiggins finished 4th in the prologue of the 2007 Tour de France in London
At the 2008 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Manchester, he won three gold medals: pursuit, team pursuit and madison. Wiggins paired up with Mark Cavendish in the madison at the Olympics and a chance for a fourth Olympic gold medal for Wiggins.
Wiggins at the 2009 Tour de France, riding for Garmin-Transitions
After finishing the 2009 Giro d'Italia 71st, which included 2nd place in the final stage, Wiggins arrived at the 2009 Tour de France having lost 6 kilograms (13 lb).[27]On the second mountain finish, in Verbier, Wiggins finished 5th to climb to 3rd overall. On stage 20 to Mont Ventoux, Wiggins finished 10th and held 4th by three seconds ahead of Frank Schleck. Wiggins won the British National Time Trial Championships in September 2009.[29]He led after winning the stage 5 time-trial in Geelong by 14 seconds over team-mate Svein Tuft.
Wiggins in the opening time trial of the 2010 Giro d'Italia, riding in his first season for Team Sky
Wiggins began 2010 as a team leader for the first time. He was part of the team who won the team time trial on stage one of the 2010 Tour of Qatar. Wiggins finished 8th on stage 3, as cobblestones caught out a number of favourites.
[39] Wiggins retained the British national time trial title at the National Championships.[40]
Wiggins was again team leader of Team Sky entering 2011. Wiggins finished 3rd overall in 2011 Paris–Nice after finishing 2nd in stage 6.
Wiggins took one of his biggest road racing victories at the 2011 Critérium du Dauphiné
Wiggins won the stage 4 time trial of 2011 Bayern-Rundfahrt, and finished the event in 14th place overall (and helping team-mate Geraint Thomas to win the event), before heading off for altitude training in preparation for the Tour de France. On the final three mountain stages Wiggins was able to maintain his lead over second placed Cadel Evans to win the Dauphiné, at that time his biggest victory in road racingWiggins took the leader's jersey, after the rest day. [55] The stage saw Wiggins drop to 3rd in the standings, with Froome ahead in 2nd. Wiggins finished the Vuelta in 3rd overall, his first Grand Tour podium.
Wiggins during the time trial at the 2011 UCI Road World Championships, coming in second to claim the silver medal
In September, Wiggins finished 2nd behind Tony Martin in the time trial at the 2011 UCI Road World Championships to take the silver medal.[57]In 2012 Wiggins' focus remained on road racing. [60] Wiggins also helped with team-mate Richie Porte's successful bid to win the race overall. In April Wiggins took a rare sprint victory from a group of 59 riders on stage 1 of the 2012 Tour de Romandie.[64][69] Wiggins held the race lead to the end, eventually winning by over a minute from team-mate Michael Rogers
Wiggins wearing the yellow jersey on his way to victory on the stage 19 time trial of the 2012 Tour de France
Wiggins won stage 9, an individual time trial, which ultimately helped him increase his lead over his competitors
Stage 12 passed without much incident with Wiggins maintaining his two minute lead over Froome. Stage 13 and 14, demonstrated Wiggins' sportsmanship. Wiggins and his Team Sky team-mates emerged from the incident without a puncture.
Wiggins won the time trial at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
On stage 17, the final mountain stage, Froome and Wiggins finished together in second and third place respectively and taking further time from all of their rivals to put Wiggins on the verge of victory.[82]Wiggins along with David Millar, Ian Stannard, Chris Froome aimed to guide the team's sprinter, Mark Cavendish to victory in the road raceWiggins won gold in the time trial at the 2012 Summer Olympics, ahead of Tony Martin of Germany and team-mate Chris Froome. After a post-Olympic break, Wiggins returned to racing at the 2012 Tour of Britain. Wiggins may not defend his Tour de France title in 2013. Wiggins is a keen musician and guitarist
