Olympic champion and 2012 Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins now leads the Tour of Britain after a dominating performance and solid win at the Stage Three Individual Time Trial. Wiggins conquered the 16km course around Knowsley Safari Park, Merseyside in 19’54”, 36seconds up on second-placed teammate Ian Stannard, with Garmin-Sharp’s Jack Bauer taking the third podium spot on +42’.
A clearly delighted Wiggins, whose 2013 season has rather lacked shine, said of his win under poor weather conditions: ‘I had to win today, whatever. The conditions weren’t ideal for me. I didn’t flinch on the roundabouts in the wet, but I thought I’d rather end up in hospital today than be beaten… When I was out of the Tour (de France) and training in June and July, I was here. This was my motivation, these were the things that kept me going: the world championships, the Tour of Britain and winning this time trial on home soil. I put pressure on myself, my own expectation. I wanted to win. That leads to pressure, but then I thrive off that, especially in this discipline.’
Wiggins now leads the GC in the Tour of Britain on an overall time of 11hr 25’54”, 37seconds up on Stannard. Omega Pharma-Quick Step’s Mark Cavendish currently sits in 25th place on +1’57”.
Further details on the Tour of Britain at tourofbritain.co.uk
