Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins heads straight into Olympic training

Bradley Wiggins is celebrating his win of the world's greatest cycle race: the Tour de France..

15:04 23 July 2012

Bradley Wiggins is celebrating his win of the world's greatest cycle race: the Tour de France. In doing so, Wiggins has become the first Briton to win the event since it began in 1903. 

 

Media reports in France are referring to him as "Le Gentleman" after he insisted that all riders slow down after one of his rival's tyres were punctured by tin tacks deliberately laid across the road by saboteurs. He said: "No one wants to benefit from other people’s misfortunes"

 

It was a great turn out for the Brits as Wiggins, 32, accepted first place while fellow countryman and Team Sky ally Chris Froome took second. 

 

Close to tears at the podium, Wiggins stated: "I just want to say thank you to everyone for the support all the way around. It has been a magical couple of weeks for the team and British cycling.

 

"Sometimes dreams come true and to my mother over there, her son has now won the Tour de France. Have a safe journey home and don’t get too drunk tonight." 

 

Wiggins also held the record for previous best place at the event - fourth in 2009 shared with Robert Millar in 1984. 

 

The Tour de France race stretches across three weeks and 2,000 miles. While the course changes every year, since 1975, the conclusion of the final stage has been along the Champs-Élysées to which this year's cyclists were met with rapturous applause.

 

While many believe that Wiggins has earned a well-deserved rest, his intentions are anything from that. He's hoping to triumph at the 2012 Olympics in the men's road race and individual time trial. 

 

He told the BBC:  "Everything turns to the Olympics and I'll be out on the bike on Monday. I've got an Olympic time trial to try and win

 

"It's a little weird to leave Paris without a party because it would be nice to spend time with the team and really enjoy it."