It has been a great year for British cycling. On the road and on the track, the year saw success upon success. A Tour de France winner, a Brit wearing the Rainbow Jersey and an Olympic gold rush at London 2012 were just some of the highlights.
We’re sure you’ve got your own personal memories but we’ve put together our own top five magic moments of 2012.
5. Brit winner of the Tour of Britain
An overall winner of the Tour of Britain being a Brit seemed to be more unlikely than a Tour de France winner yet this year saw Jonathan Tiernan-Locke win the overall title in the colours of Endura racing. He’s emerging talent was rewarded a week later with a spot and team leadership at the World Championships. Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish also rode in the race, giving us home fans a chance to applaud them for their efforts at the Tour de France and the Olympics.
4. Laura Trott’s emergence
Victoria Pendleton’s final farewell was usurped by the emergence of a new queen of track cycling. Laura Trott’s two golds at the Olympic Games in the team pursuit and omnium were simply stunning performances for one so young. Laura also had a personality that immediately made the nation warm to her.
3. Wiggo’s Time Trial triumph
On a tide of expectancy and a public smarting from Mark Cavendish’s lack of gold in the Road Race, Bradley Wiggins dragged his tired body around Surrey’s roads to smash the time of pre-race favourite Tony Martin by 42 seconds. Nothing illustrated Wiggins’ personality more than that image of him sitting on that Hampton Court after winning Olympic gold. Let’s not forget that Chris Froome also finished third, rounding off a great year for him.
2. Hoy bows out in style
Sir Chris Hoy became Britain’s most successful Olympian of all time at London 2012 by overtaking Sir Steve Redgrave with his fifth and sixth gold medals on the track. Overlooked for the men’s sprint, Sir Chris won the team sprint with Jason Kenny and Philip Hindes and then took keirin gold five days later, beating Germany’s Maximilian Levy into second place.
1. Wiggo’s Tour de France win
Without doubt the greatest achievement of a British Cyclist ever. Sky controlled the race from start to finish but Bradley Wiggins, ably supported by Chris Froome, still had to put the hard graft in. That show of emotion in the final Time Trial that Bradley won, when he punched the air with delight, connected us all to his triumph. We were all doing the same watching the television pictures. As such it is our No 1 magic cycling moment of 2012.
Brad’s delight