Britain basks in Wiggins' glory, Hoy named to carry nation's flag
Source: Agencies |
July 24, 2012, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
BRITAIN basked in the glory of Bradley Wiggins' historic triumph in cycling's Tour de France yesterday and looked ahead with relish to more sporting success at the Olympics, boosting the nation's hopes after a troubled buildup to the 2012 Games.
Newspaper front pages and radio and television programs were full of Wiggins' Tour de France win, the first British victory in what is billed as the world's most prestigious race.
And with fellow Briton Mark Cavendish sprinting to the stage win along the Champs Elysees in Paris, attention turned to their chances of winning cycling golds at the Games.
"That was the yellow, now for the gold," The Times newspaper reported.
Cavendish, who will contest one of the first medal events at the London Games on Saturday, the day after the opening ceremony, was in equally bullish mood.
"I'm very ready for the Olympics now," he said after his stage win in Paris. "We're going to have an incredibly strong team and we're not just going to the Games to see how it goes."
Some bookmakers have gone so far as to suggest Britain could break the "golden triangle" of Olympic medal winners this year, having come fourth in Beijing in 2008 behind the Chinese, Americans and Russians.
In another boost to British cyclists, Chris Hoy, whose four Olympic gold medals and host of world titles earned him a knighthood, will claim another honor on Friday when he becomes the first cyclist to carry the British flag at the London Games opening ceremony.
Hoy carried the flag at the 2008 Games closing ceremony after his triple-gold medal track cycling haul, and will be competing in his fourth Games having also won gold in 2004 and silver in 2000. "I'm absolutely delighted and honored to have been voted as the flag bearer," Hoy said. "To lead out your team at a home Olympics is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity and one that I can't wait to experience in just a few days' time."
Hoy, 36, was selected to carry the flag after a vote by all members of Britain's 542-member Olympic team.
Newspaper front pages and radio and television programs were full of Wiggins' Tour de France win, the first British victory in what is billed as the world's most prestigious race.
And with fellow Briton Mark Cavendish sprinting to the stage win along the Champs Elysees in Paris, attention turned to their chances of winning cycling golds at the Games.
"That was the yellow, now for the gold," The Times newspaper reported.
Cavendish, who will contest one of the first medal events at the London Games on Saturday, the day after the opening ceremony, was in equally bullish mood.
"I'm very ready for the Olympics now," he said after his stage win in Paris. "We're going to have an incredibly strong team and we're not just going to the Games to see how it goes."
Some bookmakers have gone so far as to suggest Britain could break the "golden triangle" of Olympic medal winners this year, having come fourth in Beijing in 2008 behind the Chinese, Americans and Russians.
In another boost to British cyclists, Chris Hoy, whose four Olympic gold medals and host of world titles earned him a knighthood, will claim another honor on Friday when he becomes the first cyclist to carry the British flag at the London Games opening ceremony.
Hoy carried the flag at the 2008 Games closing ceremony after his triple-gold medal track cycling haul, and will be competing in his fourth Games having also won gold in 2004 and silver in 2000. "I'm absolutely delighted and honored to have been voted as the flag bearer," Hoy said. "To lead out your team at a home Olympics is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity and one that I can't wait to experience in just a few days' time."
Hoy, 36, was selected to carry the flag after a vote by all members of Britain's 542-member Olympic team.
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