Bradley Wiggins wins the Vélo d'Or 2012
After his tremendous performance in the 2012 season, Bradley Wiggins received yet another honour after winning one of the most prestigious cycling awards of the season, the Vélo d'Or.
The Vélo d'Or meaning ‘Golden Bicycle’ is a cycling award created by the French cycling magazine, Velo Magazine in 1992 and is presented annually to the cyclist considered to have performed best throughout the year.
Former American Cyclist, Lance Armstrong has the honour of winning it for a maximum number of five times, through 1999-2004.
The Tour de France winner had always placed first or second in the award classifications each year and Bradley’s storming performance at the French race this year helped him in securing his first ever Vélo d'Or award.
Wiggins started the new season with tremendous legs and was a pre-race favourite for the biggest cycling gala of the year, the Tour de France 2012.
He was given maximum support by the British side, Team Sky during the French Grand Tour and Wiggins became the first ever British cyclist to claim an overall victory at the Tour de France after registering a convincing victory at the race.
The 32-year-old also succeeded during the 9th and the 19th stages of the race and was not really bothered by any cyclist during the race.
Bradley also claimed overall and stage victories at the Paris-Nice, Tour de Romandie, Criterium du Dauphine and third overall at the Volta ao Algarve 2012.
Tom Boonen of Team Omega Pharma-QuickStep secured the second position with Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver of Team Katusha claiming the third spot.
The 2011 award winner, Philippe Gilbert occupied the fourth position with Peter Sagan of Team Liquigas-Cannondale holding the fifth spot.
Thomas Voeckler was declared as the top French cyclist of the year with Julie Bresset, Arnaud Demare, Thibaut Pinot and Gregory Bauge securing the next four positions in the respective order.
Previous winner of the Vélo d'Or award are as below,
1992: Miguel Indurain
1993: Miguel Indurain
1994: Tony Rominger
1995: Laurent Jalabert
1996: Johan Museeuw
1997: Jan Ullrich
1998: Marco Pantani
1999: Lance Armstrong
2000: Lance Armstrong
2001: Lance Armstrong
2002: Mario Cipollini
2003: Lance Armstrong
2004: Lance Armstrong
2005: Tom Boonen
2006: Paolo Bettini
2007: Alberto Contador
2008: Alberto Contador
2009: Alberto Contador
2010: Fabian Cancellara
2011: Philippe Gilbert
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