Wednesday, 11 December 2013

Metro: ‘All I did was win a bike race’: ‘Inferior’ Bradley Wiggins knighted by the Queen

Olympic cyclist Sir Bradley Wiggins was knighted by the Queen – but said he felt ‘a little bit inferior’ to everyone else being honoured.

The 33-year-old said he was humbled to be honoured for his services to the sport, which include seven Olympic medals and becoming the first Briton to win the Tour de France.

In keeping with his ‘mod’ obsession, the London 2012 hero went down on bended knee in front of Her Majesty in a flared suit.

It was designed by Mark Powell – who has also made clothes for Paul Weller.

Sir Bradley, accompanied by his wife and their two children, said he was shaking and found the ceremony at Buckingham Palace nerve-racking. ‘The Queen asked what I’m doing now, and it was an incredible summer last year,’ he added. ‘I mean it’s quite humbling, really, being here.

‘I was just talking to some of the other people getting stuff, and asking them what they’ve been honoured for, and they’re historic things, ground-breaking sciences or whatever.

‘I’ve won a bike race, you know, and I feel a little bit inferior to everyone.’

Sir Bradley said the honour brought a close to the London Olympics, when he took gold in the time trial event.

Despite having the perfect excuse to celebrate, he said he was busy training for the next Games in 2016.

Sir Bradley also reacted to a spate of cycling deaths on busy London roads in recent weeks and said ‘people have to help themselves’. He added: ‘With successes in the sport, more people get on bikes and obviously accidents happen.

‘I think the fact that there is more publicity around it means more is being done now. There’s more publicity towards cycle safety.’

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