'was' as his father died some while ago. He's a cosmopolitan character, born in Ghent, to a British mother and Aussie father, no one is denying that his dad had a small part in it. That he wanted to be a soccer player maybe isn't widely known, and it was his mum who encouraged him to race his bike. Irrespective of any of that, anyone who wins the TdF is special, as it's one of the most difficult accomplishments in the sporting world.

Shane Sutton, his coach with BC/Sky suggested that Wiggo has never tried hard at anything, and that if he had, we'd have world records that would stand for years. Perhaps in meeting this challenge, Wiggins has finally grown up and fulfilled that potential.

That he's been helped by the absence of Contador or the actual course this year, a strong team etcetera etcetera shouldn't take away the physical and mental strength/endurance it takes to win the race. So congratulations to Bradley Wiggins who looks to have it all sewn up this year.

(We all know about the Aussie skeletons in his cupboard, curious none of them mentioned it while Cadel Evans was in contention or Orica Green Edge looked as if they might win a stage.)

Angharad