• Tour de France

Hoy: Wiggins the greatest Brit in history

ESPN staff
July 22, 2012
Bradley Wiggins will be crowned Tour de France champion on Sunday © PA Photos
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Sir Chris Hoy, winner of four Olympic gold medals, claims Bradley Wiggins will deliver the greatest moment in British sporting history when he clinches the Tour de France on Sunday.

Wiggins confirmed on Saturday that, barring an absolute disaster, he will be crowned the first British winner of the Tour de France. It is a feat that no Brit has managed in 109 years of the famous race.

Sunday's final stage acts as something of a procession for the riders, which is why Wiggins is already the champion in everything but name. That will be confirmed when he crosses the finishing line in Paris, and Hoy claims victory will put Wiggins above his own achievements, as well as those by the likes of Sir Steven Redgrave.

"I still have to pinch myself," Hoy said. "You see him up on the mountain stages, not just hanging in there by the skin of his teeth, but dishing out the pain to everyone else, and wearing the yellow jersey at this late stage of the tour.

"It is just unbelievable. I think this will be the greatest achievement by any British sportsperson ever.

"That is a big claim, but I don't think you can overstate how hard it is to win the Tour de France. There is a reason why no-one has done it from Britain so far."

Wiggins cemented his grip on the Tour de France with a dominating ride in the 53.5km individual time-trial from Bonneval to Chartres. Holding a comfortable lead of two minutes and five seconds over Sky team-mate Chris Froome, Wiggins crossed the line in one hour, four minutes and 13 seconds, a massive 1:16 better off than second-placed Froome.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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