Goofy
07-22-2012, 04:04 PM
The 32-year-old safely negotiated the processional stage in Paris to complete a remarkable victory - one of the very best in British sporting history
http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/6102/bradleywigginswinneroft.jpg (http://img585.imageshack.us/i/bradleywigginswinneroft.jpg/)
Bradley Wiggins is Britain's first Tour de France champion after negotiating the final stage on the streets of Paris this afternoon.
The 32-year-old triple Olympic champion began the 120-kilometre 20th stage from Rambouillet to Paris - his 13th day in the yellow jersey - with a lead of three minutes 21 seconds over Team Sky colleague Chris Froome.
And in the blazing sunshine of the French capital, the rider completed an historic victory that propels him into British sporting greatness.
He told ITV immediately afterwards: "We had a job to do and we did it. What a way to finish it off.
"I'm just trying to soak every minute of today - it's so surreal at the moment.
"It's incredible."
He also helped Team Sky rider Mark Cavendish complete a final-stage victory for the fourth successive year.
The stage was the procession to the Champs-Elysees that many expected, where the sprinters would contest the finish.
World champion Cavendish (Team Sky) had won on the French capital's most famous boulevard in each of the previous three years and did so again.
"It couldn't be a better finish to an amazing Tour for us," Cavendish said.
"That's an incredible few weeks for us."
The stage was ridden at pedestrian pace, with Wiggins pictured with the leaders of the classifications - points leader Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale), King of the Mountains leader Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) and best young rider Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing), wearing green, polka dot and white jerseys, respectively.
Wiggins also rode alongside 2011 Tour champion Cadel Evans, a man the Londoner took inspiration from while watching at home after crashing out of the first week last year with a fractured collarbone.
Wiggins' Team Sky colleagues shared in the limelight, with the Londoner indebted to his seven colleagues for their support since the June 30 start in Liege.
George Hincapie, riding in his 17th consecutive and final Tour before retirement, led the peloton on to the Champs-Elysees for the first of eight laps.
Alongside Hincapie (BMC Racing), who supported Lance Armstrong in each of his seven victories from 1999 to 2005, was Chris Horner (RadioShack-Nissan-Trek).
Team Sky's full eight-man squad were behind, with Cavendish sandwiched between Wiggins and Froome as the day's racing began.
And they were to finish triumphant, too, as Wiggins went over the finish line to become the first Brit to complete a Tour de France win.
http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/6102/bradleywigginswinneroft.jpg (http://img585.imageshack.us/i/bradleywigginswinneroft.jpg/)
Bradley Wiggins is Britain's first Tour de France champion after negotiating the final stage on the streets of Paris this afternoon.
The 32-year-old triple Olympic champion began the 120-kilometre 20th stage from Rambouillet to Paris - his 13th day in the yellow jersey - with a lead of three minutes 21 seconds over Team Sky colleague Chris Froome.
And in the blazing sunshine of the French capital, the rider completed an historic victory that propels him into British sporting greatness.
He told ITV immediately afterwards: "We had a job to do and we did it. What a way to finish it off.
"I'm just trying to soak every minute of today - it's so surreal at the moment.
"It's incredible."
He also helped Team Sky rider Mark Cavendish complete a final-stage victory for the fourth successive year.
The stage was the procession to the Champs-Elysees that many expected, where the sprinters would contest the finish.
World champion Cavendish (Team Sky) had won on the French capital's most famous boulevard in each of the previous three years and did so again.
"It couldn't be a better finish to an amazing Tour for us," Cavendish said.
"That's an incredible few weeks for us."
The stage was ridden at pedestrian pace, with Wiggins pictured with the leaders of the classifications - points leader Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale), King of the Mountains leader Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) and best young rider Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing), wearing green, polka dot and white jerseys, respectively.
Wiggins also rode alongside 2011 Tour champion Cadel Evans, a man the Londoner took inspiration from while watching at home after crashing out of the first week last year with a fractured collarbone.
Wiggins' Team Sky colleagues shared in the limelight, with the Londoner indebted to his seven colleagues for their support since the June 30 start in Liege.
George Hincapie, riding in his 17th consecutive and final Tour before retirement, led the peloton on to the Champs-Elysees for the first of eight laps.
Alongside Hincapie (BMC Racing), who supported Lance Armstrong in each of his seven victories from 1999 to 2005, was Chris Horner (RadioShack-Nissan-Trek).
Team Sky's full eight-man squad were behind, with Cavendish sandwiched between Wiggins and Froome as the day's racing began.
And they were to finish triumphant, too, as Wiggins went over the finish line to become the first Brit to complete a Tour de France win.