Wiggins seals Tour with time trial win
CHARTRES, France July 21 (Reuters) – Bradley Wiggins was 120 km away from becoming the first Briton to win the Tour de France after he outclassed the rest of the bunch in the penultimate stage, a 53.5-km time trial to Chartres on Saturday.
Wiggins, who clocked one hour, four minutes and 13 seconds, at 50kph, left his nearest rival, team mate Chris Froome, 1:16 behind, quashing suggestions his compatriot was the stronger rider on this Tour.
Froome should be second on the podium on the Champs-Elysees, 3:21 behind his Team Sky leader as the final stage is usually a leisurely ride to the finish line for all but the sprinters.
Italian climber Vincenzo Nibali rode a solid time trial, finishing 16th to retain his third place overall, 6:19 behind Wiggins.
Wiggins, a three-times track cycling Olympic champion, punched the air in joy as he crossed the line as if he had a point to make in this long solitary effort.
“I really wanted to finish with a bang. This is the Tour. It doesn't get much bigger than this,” he said.
After completing his ride, Wiggins rushed to his team
I really wanted to finish with a bang. This is the Tour. It doesn't get much bigger than this
bus to embrace Froome and Australia's Mick Rogers, two of the Team Sky riders who have helped him in the race.