Bradley Wiggins

[hipkiss92]

Having been to the time trial today I feel he deserves his own thread.

Start off by saying I think both a Knighthood and SPOTY are coming his way,
where do people think he ranks on lists of greatest British sportsmen?

No. 1 for me, the year he's had is unprecedented, and already had one of the greatest Olympic records behind him before 2012.

[Chipsticks]

His interview that played on SSN about on hour ago was heart-wrenching, where he talked about how he misses his family and how he wished he could go watch the cycling as a 'normal' person. I know it's a bit of a cliche from sportsmen in interviews, but I thought he genuinely meant it and showed real humility.

[curiousorange]

It's a bit of a fence-sit, but I wouldn't like to compare his achievement to another discipline since I think any sportsperson at the top of their profession is a work of art in itself. I would say that anything he gets following this summer he deserves, and also that from all I've seen and all I've read shows a remarkably focussed and down-to-earth bloke. The mark of a top fella is someone I think would be happy to buy a beer for, and I would pass a pint Wiggins' way without a second's reflection.

Congratulations to Wiggins and Froome on today's ride. A very special achievement indeed.

[eamonn]

The sideburns are a bit ropey though.

[curiousorange]

The sideburns are a bit ropey though.

Anybody with siders like that needs their hand shaking.

[bertlambshank]

Why hasn't he got 15 mirrors on each side of his handlebars like the face?

[Vancouver]

Good for him and all that but definitely doesn't deserve a knighthood. No, you can't give one out for that. You may be thinking of an OBE or MBE.

And isn't Steve Redgrave our best sportsman by a mile?

[Somniloquism]

Wiggins has won more Olympic medals then Sir Steve. And is one gold off matching his total of golds. It's a shame he has decided not to do the indoor track stuff this year.

[TopDeck113]

When we all have a little more time to reflect, we will realize that what Wiggins has accomplished in the last month is up there amongst the greatest sporting achievements that anyone from these islands has ever attained.

As a longstanding cycling fan, I can't think of an award, recognition or financial reward he doesn't warrant.

[UK Redsox]

Greatest British sportsperson of all time. No doubt about it for me.

[Somniloquism]

The only niggle I have is that pro road cycling is traditionally dogged with drug abuse rumours. Lance Armstrong is the next one to be charged and I remember when at the time he was insprational.

[TopDeck113]

The only niggle I have is that pro road cycling is traditionally dogged with drug abuse rumours. Lance Armstrong is the next one to be charged and I remember when at the time he was insprational.

Wiggins is clean. End of. Full stop. Period.

[philthebar]

Great sportsman but I still maintain that the Tour de France is essentially a team event, whereas yesterday's time trial individual. 

That's not to take anything away from the achievements.

Came across really well in the interviews too.

Knighthood - in the current climate yes, bus essentially not for people involved in sport or entertainment.

[Dante Lavelli]

The only niggle I have is that pro road cycling is traditionally dogged with drug abuse rumours. Lance Armstrong is the next one to be charged and I remember when at the time he was insprational.

Wiggins is clean. End of. Full stop. Period.

The article he wrote for the guardian about drugs is probably him at his very best.  I doubt anyone could write such heart felt words and then be cheating in the background.

[Dante Lavelli]

There is an ITV4 documentary about Wiggo on Youtube and one of the interesting bits that comes out of it is that he, in the past, has lacked focus.  Basically if he had trained as hard as he is now for his entire career he’d have world records for his track stuff coming out of his ears.

For example after the Beijing Olympics he went on a SIX MONTH drinking binge.  In in the true British way of supporting characters it actually makes him easier to like.