Sir Brad: The Hart of a lion
TAO GEOGHEGAN HART became Britain’s fifth Grand Tour champion – and cycling royalty Sir Bradley Wiggins told him: “You’ve made it, mate. You’re on top of the world.”
The 25- year- old won the Giro d’italia after a duel with Aussie Jai Hindley to claim the coveted Pink Jersey in Milan.
And the east Londoner – originally designated to ride as a domestique for Geraint Thomas, who crashed out on the third stage – completed his Italian job with five- time Olympic champion and 2012 Tour de France winner Wiggins leading the acclaim.
Before TGH stormed to glory by 39 seconds in the final 9.75- mile time trial, which he began on levelpegging with Hindley, he was fired up by a personal message from the Eurosport pundit.
Wiggins said: “He sent me a message the other day and said, ‘ Thanks for being an inspiration. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be here.’
“I think that’s too generous. Tao, you’re on the verge of greatness. You’re already great, you’ve proved your talent, you’ve surpassed me.
“My son’s 15, you’re now his hero.”
Geoghegan Hart is only the second British rider, after Chris Froome’s spectacular solo in 2018, to win the Giro.
For his team, Ineos Grenadiers – previously Team Sky – it was a 10th Grand Tour victory since Wiggins won the Tour de France in 2012 and Geoghegan Hart said: “I think there’s a curfew at 11pm. We’ll see what happens. We won’t be breaking any protocols.”
Of his victory, he said: “It’s bizarre to be honest. Not in my wildest dreams did I imagine that this would be possible when we started nearly a month ago in Sicily.”
Geoghegan Hart only joined Ineos in 2017 and appeared to be too far down in the general classification to mount a challenge.
But he was catapulted into contention by winning the mountainous stage 15 at Piancavallo, then won again on Saturday to set up yesterday’s time trial finale.