Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
A year after Cadel Evans claimed the first Tour de France victory for Australia it was the turn of Great Britain who eclipsed their Commonwealth colleagues by claiming the two highest places on the podium.
Bradley Wiggins, who retired with a broken collarbone last year, claimed the famed maillot jaune to become the first Brit to win in the 109-year history of the race and, with Chris Froome finishing second, Team Sky became the first team since 1996 to finish 1-2.
This is a remarkable performance for Team Sky who, on formation in 2010, was scoffed at as they openly expressed an aim to deliver a Tour de France winner for Great Britain by 2015.
While some will claim that their success this year has been aided by the loss of other leading contenders through illness or temporary drug-induced bans, unfortunately for professional cycling, that’s the nature of the beast.
The win for Wiggins has heightened the focus on cycling ahead of the Olympics. The road race on July 28 represents Britain’s first chance of a gold medal.
Yet while the opening ceremony will be held in London on Friday, the Games will begin with women’s football in Cardiff today and the men to follow tomorrow at Old Trafford.
It’s safe to say that, after a 2-0 humiliation in a warm-up game against Brazil, home hopes will be focused either on the ladies team, managed by Hope Powell – or the cyclists!
