E-Paper
After Tour glory, Wiggins looks to add to Olympic medals
Bradley Wiggins is targeting Olympic gold after pedalling his way into the history books with Britain’s first ever victory in the Tour de France.
Bradley Wiggins is targeting Olympic gold after pedalling his way into the history books with Britain’s first ever victory in the Tour de France.
The 32-year-old Londoner surged to a memorable victory in cycling’s most prestigious event on Sunday but wasted no time in turning his attention to his challenge at his hometown Olympics.
“If I'm 100% honest, it's gold or nothing in London now, really,” Wiggins said. “That’s the way I'm treating the next nine days. I can't sit here and say I'll be happy with a silver or happy with a bronze,” he added.
Can’t match tour Wiggins admitted that adding to the three gold medals he has already accumulated at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics would not necessarily top his Tour win, which he described as the “greatest day of my sporting life”.
“Would a gold medal in London top it? It's a separate thing. As it stands the icing is on the cake. Coming off the back of this, it would add the hundreds and thousands on top,” he said.
“I've made so many improvements in my time trialling ... it's realistic to think I can win gold now.”
Meanwhile Wiggins awoke on Monday to find images of his Tour win splashed across the front pages of Britain’s press, who were unanimous in saying the cyclist now firmly belonged in the pantheon of British sporting greats.
Many said Wiggins could now expect to be honoured with a knighthood for his achievement while some reports speculated he may also now enter the frame as the man to light Olympic flame at Friday’s opening ceremony.
