Tour de France 2012 winner Bradley Wiggins, sidelined from this year’s edition through injury, may not try to win the race again, he indicated in comments published on Friday.
“For me it was always about winning the Tour,” he was quoted as saying on guardian.co.uk, the web site of Britain’s The Guardian newspaper.
“I’ve done that. If I’m honest I don’t think I’m prepared to make those sacrifices again that I made last year, with my family and so on. I’ve achieved what I’ve achieved. I’m incredibly happy with that.”
Wiggins, who was Britain’s first-ever winner of the famous race, followed up with gold in the Olympic time-trial and played a starring role ringing a bell to signal the start of the Games’ opening ceremony.
He also won the BBC’s prestigious Sports Personality of the Year award, but has endured mixed fortunes on the bike since then.
First he was involved in a training ride crash with a car near his home in northwest England, then had to pull out of this year’s Giro d’Italia — which he was hoping to win — through illness.
He then dropped out of the Tour with a knee injury, paving the way for his team-mate Chris Froome, to lead Team Sky’s charge for further glory when the race starts on June 29.
Wiggins, 33, added: “If I do anything else after this it will be stuff I want to do, stuff that I’m willing to train hard and sacrifice for really.
“For me it was always about winning the Tour, that was a huge thing for me, a huge journey; I’ve been doing that four years. I don’t know if I’d want to go through all that again to be honest.
“I’ve always had other goals and there are other things I’d like to try and do,” he added, without elaborating.
On Froome’s chances, Wiggins said his Nairobi-born compatriot was in prime form and looked set “for a few years to win a few Tours maybe”.
Frankie Hughes
Guest
When's wiggins ever been in contention for any other Grand Tour? Oh yes...never.
Colin N
Guest
"Wiggins picked a year where the field was sparse and picked a ‘cheaper’ Yellow Jersey." Yeah, because the Tour de France is so easy to win.
Bones506
Roar Guru
I don't think you can sit there and say he picked a Cheaper' Yellow Jersey. There is only one up for grabs and you race against whomever lines up at the start. I don't much like the personalityof the man but I don't lessen his victory by tying him to that or who wasn't there. If you took the same thinking pattern - you ould say cade has a cheaper jersey b/c wiggis broke his arm and contador crashed 3 times. Do you think that of Cadel's win? His win was boring but he and the eam knew eactly what to do to achieve that win.
Frankie Hughes
Guest
It's not hate I love watching cycling But after years seeing great battles over the Yellow Jersey, between great riders. Wiggins picked a year where the field was sparse and picked a 'cheaper' Yellow Jersey. He's hailed as a trailblazer. He's not.
liquor box
Guest
Why the hate? You can only beat who you are riding against. Like it or not, you may say he is the most over rated rider to win the TDF, but he was also a trail blazer for the method SKY used to win, the way they climb at a set tempo and back themselves to catch up without going in the red has obviously been a success, it is now copied by others. I would not say Wiggins is over rated, but will admit that his win was the most boring win I have seen.
Frankie Hughes
Guest
Basically what Wiggins is saying is "I managed to fluke the TDF when Contador and Schleck weren't around. I know I can never win it if they are competing". Wiggins luck was really in during 2012. Most overrated rider to win TDF.