Recently, I got a free publicity copy of this book: Bradley Wiggins – The story of Britain’s greatest-ever cyclist - through the post.
Do you remember those halycon days of late August, when cycling was the coolest sport, Jimmy Saville was a great charity worker, British cycling was basking in its greatest glory days since John Dunlop invented the pneumatic tyre, and Bradley Wiggins had just won the Tour de France and Olympic gold? The joy of the 2012 Olympics was a tantalising glimpse of how sport could be a real force to lift everyone’s spirits. In retrospect, it was almost going to be too much.
What’s happened since then? Well, not quite as much as changed as we may fear. Bradley Wiggins is still Bradley Wiggins, and doping in cycling is not entirely as new and unexpected as some would have us believe.
Anyway, the book is a nice short summary of Bradley’s career from his beginnings on the track to winning the Tour de France and Olympic gold this summer. Pictures are very good quality and if you want a memento of Bradley Wiggins’ finest hour this book is good. The text is a bit on the short side, but it captures the main events in Wiggins’ career from the highs of winning Olympic gold to the shame of a Cofidis team-mate testing positive for dope. It has an introduction from Chris Boardman, who acted as an inspiration to a young Bradley.
Photo by: bestkevine
It’s kind of ironic that Bradley Wiggins has found himself as the new cycling superstar – just as the world slowly wakes up to the true nature of Father Christmas (aka L.A.) (It was Wiggins who quoted as saying: ‘Lance the cyclist is like Father Christmas..they don’t exist’)
Given how much hero-worship there was of ‘ Lance Armstrong, it’s left quite a few cycling fans a bit jaded. But, if anyone can be an antidote to what has gone on before, Bradley is probably as good as it gets. His unique sense of humour and ‘mod father’ looks (whatever that is, I don’t really know what a mod is) make him a real sporting personality.
Perhaps we would like our cyclists to be more outspoken on dope, but in the centre of professional cycling it’s probably a bit more difficult than sitting on the edge of the t’internet. At least Bradley Wiggins has seen the USADA report for what it is and has made fair comments (unlike some nameless Spanish cyclists who give you as much confidence as getting some random bag of blood from a dodgy Madrid medical practise).
We know cycling has its mixture of characters the good, the bad and the ugly. But, Bradley is one of the good one’s and why not enjoy the inspiration of his cycling success. Given the difficulties of the sport, it makes it even more remarkable.
- Bradley Wiggins – The story of Britain’s greatest-ever cyclist
Related
No comments yet.