Triumph expected to inspire future cyclists

Bradley Wiggins’s victory in the Tour de France was acclaimed as one of finest moments in Britain’s sporting history by Sport and Olympics Minister Hugh Robertson.

Wiggins is the first rider from the UK to win cycling’s greatest event with Team Sky team-mate Chris Froome finishing in second place.

“Bradley Wiggins’s triumph goes down as one of the great achievements in British sporting history,” said Robertson.

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“It is a superb feat of endurance, skill and sporting excellence and he has been backed by an outstanding team.

“I congratulate him, his fellow riders, Dave Brailsford and everyone at Team Sky who have worked so hard to bring about this first ever British win.”

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, hopes participation numbers in cycling will explode as a result of Wiggins’s success.

“Huge congratulations must go to Bradley Wiggins,” added Johnson.

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“His incredible determination, focus and will to win blew away the rest of the field and propelled this legendary Londoner to the summit of his sport.

“His inspirational performances, ably supported by his fellow Team Sky riders including Brits Chris Froome and Mark Cavendish, will encourage thousands more people to take to two wheels.”

British Cycling president Brian Cookson described the outcome to the 99th edition of the Tour de France as a “monumental day” for the sport in Britain.

“To see a British rider and a fellow member of British Cycling win is a dream come true for me and all at British Cycling,” said Cookson.

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“This is a monumental day for sport in the UK – Great Britain has produced in Bradley Wiggins a rider who has won one of the world’s biggest sporting challenges and everyone involved in cycling in this country must be immensely proud of that.

“Team Sky’s success this year highlights how cycling is now a mainstream sport, and Great Britain is now the world leading nation.”