2012 Sporting Memories: Wiggo Mania

As the recent BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards showed, 2012 was a year for Britain. It was our year and our time. This was relevant to no-one more than Bradley Wiggins: Blighty's first Tour De France victor.
You'd have to walk, or ride, many miles to find a sceptical sports fan who'd describe Wiggins' win as anything less than popular, and even if you did, they'd probably be guilty of doping. Yes, 'Wiggo' continued the upwards trend of Cycling's appeal as a sport in 2012, by living up to his tag as favourite for the prestigious event, and leaving the field quite frankly for dead.
However, Wiggo's victory on the Tour had far bigger implications that merely bringing the title to Britain; for instance, had the Brit not sealed a memorable and popular victory, would Cycling's reputation be in tatters after the Lance Armstrong affair this year? Would, as confirmed today, the sport receive a 17.5% increase in funding for Rio 2016? Would we look back with greater regret on Team GB's failed Gold Medal attempt for success in the London 2012 Road Race? Would the 2013 Tour De France be launched in Yorkshire? The answer to all those questions I feel, is a straight no.
So, popular, important, but what else? Well more than anything, stunning. Bradley Wiggins, the Londoner, a man who upon first impressions is a typical 'bloke'; likes a pint, enjoys a pub-sense of humour, and isn't afraid to be himself and voice opinion. NOT, you'd presume, the worlds current greatest road cyclist. I for one, can look back on 2012 as the year Cycling (beyond Velodrome events) for me became a sport I genuinely began to follow, and I owe this thanks to watching Wiggins' rise to success in the Media and of course the Tour De France. That iconic moment witnessed on my TV, of Bradley Wiggins standing atop of the podium in Paris, is one im likely to never forget. 
To add to the amazement, Wiggo didn't simply take to an open-top bus to revel in his glory when he arrived back on home turf. Instead, he went out and monstered the cycling Time trial at London 2012, a matter of days after returning home from France! That gold medal in London now sits next to not only his Yellow Jersey, but the small total six gold medals won in previous Games'. He's not too bad on two wheels is he really...
The summer of 2012 then, saw Bradley Wiggins become one of the nations most cherished athletes. Following in the footsteps of Mark Cavendish, Wiggo picked up BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2012, and you really need look no further than the word 'personality' to see why. His frank, 'mod', comical, grounded and honest persona was for me, the key to his awe-inspiring year. A year that saw Bradley Wiggins lead the way in well and truly bringing Cycling, to the people.