British cyclist Bradley Wiggins announces retirement

Sir Bradley Wiggins, British former professional road and track racing cyclist, in the last week of December 2016 announced retirement from cycling.

In his 16-year career as a professional, Wiggins won the Tour de France and a record eight Olympic medals.

About Bradley Wiggins

• Born on 28 April 1980, Sir Bradley Marc Wiggins is a British former professional road and track racing cyclist.

• He competed professionally between 2001 and 2016.

• The cyclist has been nicknamed as Wiggo.

• He commenced his cycling career on the track. However, later he made the transition to road cycling.

• He is one of the few cyclists to gain significant success in both the forms of professional cycling.

• He is the first British cyclist to win the Tour de France and the time trial at the Olympic Games.

• He is the only cyclist to have combined winning both World and Olympic championships on both the track and the road, as well as winning the Tour de France.

• His first Olympic medal was a silver in the team pursuit in Sydney 2000. Later, he won three medals including the gold in the individual pursuit at the Athens 2004. At the Beijing 2008, he grabbed two golds in the individual and team pursuit.

• In June 2015, he set a new hour record with a distance of 54.526 km.

• In 2009, he was awarded a CBE, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

• In 2012, he was honoured with the Vélo d'Or award for best rider of the year, the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award.

• In the 2013 New Year Honours, he was awarded the knighthood.