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    Icons: My Inspiration. My Motivation. My Obsession.
    Icons: My Inspiration. My Motivation. My Obsession.
    Icons: My Inspiration. My Motivation. My Obsession.
    Audiobook5 hours

    Icons: My Inspiration. My Motivation. My Obsession.

    Written by Bradley Wiggins

    Narrated by Bradley Wiggins and Tom Watt

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    With a foreword by Eddy Merckx

    The world of professional cycling is fraught with fierce competition, fervent dedication and unerring ambition, and only a handful of competitors reach iconic status. Among them is Sir Bradley Wiggins – a man uniquely placed to reflect on the history of this remarkable sport and its unforgettable titans.

    In Icons, Wiggins takes the reader on an extraordinarily intimate journey through the sport, presenting key pieces from his never-before-seen collection of memorabilia. Over the course of his illustrious career, he amassed hundreds of items – often gifts from its greatest and most controversial figures. Each reflects an icon, a race or a moment that fundamentally influenced Wiggins on both a personal and professional level.

    By exploring the lives and achievements of 21 of the sport’s key figures – among them Fausto Coppi, Jacques Anquetil, Miguel Induráin and Tom Simpson – Wiggins sheds new light on what professional cycling demands of its best competitors. Icons lauds their triumphs, elucidates their demons and sheds light on the philosophy and psychology that comprise the unique mindset of a cycling champion.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateNov 1, 2018
    ISBN9780008301767
    Author

    Bradley Wiggins

    Bradley Wiggins grew up in Kilburn in London. As a junior he won the World Junior Pursuit title before going on to win seven Olympic medals including four gold medals spanning four games, and seven World Track Championship titles. In 2012 he became the first Briton to win the Tour de France, a feat that Sir Chris Hoy described as 'the greatest sporting achievement' by a British athlete. He was awarded the OBE in the 2005 New Year's honours list and the CBE in 2009. He currently lives in the north-west of England with his wife, Cath, and their two children, Ben and Isabella.

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    • 4/5
      I started watching the Tour just after Sir Bradley retired so never saw him compete in person. His book piqued my interest not only because of my scant knowledge about him but also because of his portrayal of those cycling legends whose prowess and personality built up the allure of the sport. These 21 brief sketches filled out quite a few gaps in my knowledge and succeeded in making me want to learn more. Some of these icons are still fraught with controversy (Lance Armstrong, for example) but Wiggins defends their place in his list by contextualizing their performances during their own eras and by sharing his own perspective as a former professional cyclist. Big props to the narrator for his characterization of Wiggins as that of a regular bloke from humble beginnings whose cycling dreams came true...almost.