Bradley Wiggins: My Time (33 page)

Celebrating with the Sky lads on the final Sunday’s brief run into Paris

When I crossed the line on the Champs Elysées my first thought, as ever, was to seek out my wife Cath

Proud moments in London: leading the road race up Box Hill with Froomie, David Millar, Ian Stannard and Cav on my wheel

Contemplating my fate at the time trial start

Thanking the incredible support after one of the greatest days of my life

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Without these people none of this would have happened. I am indebted to:

Everyone at Team Sky, but particular thanks to Dave Brailsford, Shane Sutton, Tim Kerrison, Sean Yates, Rod Ellingworth, Dan the physio, Diego, Mario, Gary, Alldis and all the other backroom staff.

The Tour boys: Mick Rogers, Richie Porte, Christian Knees, Chris Froome, Mark Cavendish, Bernhard Eisel, Kosta Siutsou, Edvald Boasson Hagen.

Faces from the peloton: Steve Cummings, Matt Rabin.

Team GB: Matt Parker, Nigel Mitchell, Doug Dailey, Luc de Wilde, Phil Burt, Richard Freeman, Alan Williams, the lads in the stores, all the boys in the workshop.

For help with the book I’d like to thank William Fotheringham, and everybody at Yellow Jersey Press including Matt Phillips, Frances Jessop, James Jones, Bethan Jones, Phil Brown, Penny Liechti, Monique Corless, Justine Taylor,
Alice
Brett, Myra Jones, Ben Murphy, Richard Cable, Roger Bratchell and Tom Drake-Lee. My agent Jonathan Marks and his partner in crime Emma Wade and everyone else at MTC.

All the lads at Paul Hewitt Cycles for building wheels for me, Terry Dolan and Steve, Richard and Mick from Sport and Publicity, Mark at Adidas, Scott Mitchell.

I’d like to thank those a little closer to home, too. My mum, my nan, George – who would have loved to have seen everything that’s happened this last twelve months – and everyone else who makes up Team Wiggins. My parents-in-law Liz and Dave, Ruth and Neil.

Finally Cath, Ben and Bella. Thank you for giving me the gift of patience and understanding to allow me to follow my dream. And thanks for always reminding me what’s most important.

APPENDIX

THE GOLDEN YEAR

A list of my results for the 2012 season.

F
EBRUARY
15–19:
V
OLTA AO
A
LGARVE
, P
ORTUGAL

Stage one: Dunas Douradas (Almancil) – Albufeira, 151km Winner, Gianni Meersman (Belgium) Lotto-Belisol in 4hr-02min-17sec; 77th place, B Wiggins at 7sec

Stage two: Faro – Lagoa, 187.5km

Edvald Boasson Hagen (Norway) Team Sky in 4-57-23; 111, Wiggins same time

Stage three: Castro Marim – Malhão (Loulé), 194.6km

Richie Porte (Australia) Team Sky in 4-55-11; 10, Wiggins at 40sec

Stage four: Vilamoura – Tavira, 186.3km

Gerald Ciolek (Austria) Omega Pharma-Quick-Step in 4-35-01; 47, Wiggins st

Stage five: Lagoa – Portimão, 25.8km individual time trial

Bradley Wiggins (GB) Team Sky in 0-32-48; 2, T Martin (Germany) Omega Pharma-Quick-Step st

Overall:

Richie Porte (Australia) Team Sky 19-02-43; 3, Wiggins at 44sec

M
ARCH
4–11:
P
ARIS
–N
ICE
, F
RANCE

Stage one: Dampierre-en-Yvelines – Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse, 9.4km individual time trial

Gustav Larsson (Sweden) Vacansoleil-DCM in 0-11-19; 2, Wiggins at 1sec

Stage two: Mantes-la-Jolie – Orléans, 185.5km

Tom Boonen (Belgium) Omega Pharma-Quick-Step in 4-22-15; 11, Wiggins st

Stage three: Vierzon – Lac de Vassivière, 194km

Alejandro Valverde (Spain) Movistar in 4-36-19; 20, Wiggins st

Stage four: Brive-la-Gaillarde – Rodez, 178km

Gianni Meersman (Belgium) Lotto-Belisol in 4-21-01; 10, Wiggins st

Stage five: Onet-le-Château – Mende, 178.5km

Lieuwe Westra (Netherlands) Vacansoleil-DCM in 4-52-46; 3, Wiggins at 6sec

Stage six: Suze-la-Rousse – Sisteron, 178.5km

Luis León Sánchez (Spain) Rabobank in 4-07-58; 41, Wiggins at 14sec

Stage seven: Sisteron – Nice 219.5km

Thomas de Gendt (Belgium) Vacansoleil-DCM in 5-11-48; 31, Wiggins at 9min 24sec

Stage eight: Nice – Col d’Èze 9.6km individual time trial

Bradley Wiggins (GB) Team Sky in 0-19-12; 2, Lieuwe Westra (Netherlands) Vacansoleil-DCM at 2sec

Overall:

Bradley Wiggins (GB) Team Sky in 28-12-16; 2, Lieuwe Westra (Netherlands) Vacansoleil-DCM at 8sec

M
ARCH
19–25:
T
OUR OF
C
ATALONIA
, S
PAIN

Stage one: Calella – Calella 138.9km

Michael Albasini (Switzerland) GreenEDGE in 3-20-04; 165, Wiggins at 1min 32sec

Stage two: Girona – Girona 161 km

Michael Albasini (Switzerland) GreenEDGE in 3-52-07; 16, Wiggins st

Stage three: La Vall d’en Bas (Sant Esteve d’en Bas)– Port-Ainé 210.9km

Janez Brajkovič (Slovenia) Astana, no time given as stage shortened due to snow; Wiggins, did not finish

A
PRIL
24–29:
T
OUR OF
R
OMANDIE
, S
WITZERLAND

Prologue: Lausanne – Lausanne, 3.34km individual time trial

Geraint Thomas (GB) Team Sky in 0-03-29; 11, Wiggins at 9sec

Stage one: Morges – La Chaux-de-Fonds, 184.5km

Bradley Wiggins (GB) Team Sky in 4-50-23

Stage two: Montbéliard – Moutier, 149.1km

Johnathan Hivert (France) Saur Sojasun in 3-48-11; 42, Wiggins st

Stage three: La Neuveville – Charmey, 157.9km

Luis León Sánchez (Spain) Rabobank in 3-58-29; 22, Wiggins st

Stage four: Bulle – Sion, 184km

Luis León Sánchez (Spain) Rabobank in 4-56-13; 18, Wiggins st

Stage five: Crans-Montana – Crans-Montana, 16.5km individual time trial

Bradley Wiggins (GB) Team Sky in 0-28-56; 2, Andrew Talansky (USA) Garmin-Barracuda at 1sec

Overall:

Bradley Wiggins (GB) Team Sky in 18-05-40; 2 Andrew Talansky (USA) Garmin-Barracuda at 12sec

J
UNE
3–10:
C
RITÉRIUM DU
D
AUPHINÉ
, F
RANCE