Ten years ago, Bradley Wiggins won the Tour de France; the first British cyclist to do so. He was part of a team then called Sky now Ineos Grenadiers. I drew the race for the first time in 2012 and began a blog as each day unfolded. It was an amazing story then and it still is.
Ten years on, British riders have continued to light up the Tour, with no less than five wins alone between Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas, also part of that extraordinary team. Along with 34 stage wins for Mark Cavendish who was part of Sky in 2012, the profile of British cycling, especially in the Tour de France, has grown and developed to a remarkable level since 2012.
Other members of that team are still there, while others may move on, the presence of British cyclists throughout the race stems, I believe, from inspiration from this first achievement of Team Sky. Among the extraordinary crop of new talented riders, there is a remarkable contingent of riders from that team, still competing and still near the top of the standings. It’s quite a remarkable testament to the 2012 generation; they are exceptional athletes. If you look at the post carousel, you’ll see the names of riders of different nationalities, who are still competing in this year’s race.
I acknowledge that this team and even Bradley himself divide opinion, but personally, I have taken huge inspiration from them and their steadfast presence these past ten years. They have won seven out of the last ten Tours. I am a fan of their inspirational performances, which in turn, inspired me and set me on my path, which is a joy.
Thanks for the memories!
Maxine Dodd art 