Cameron applauds Wiggins success

Prime Minister David Cameron described Bradley Wiggins' triumph in cycling's Tour de France as one of the finest moments in Britain's sporting history.

Wiggins became the first rider from the UK to win cycling's greatest event with team-mate Chris Froome finishing in second place. And Mark Cavendish clinched the final stage of the race into Paris on Sunday, sealing victory on the Champs-Elysees for a fourth consecutive year.

"Like everyone in the country, I'm absolutely delighted," Cameron told the BBC. "Bradley Wiggins has scaled one of the great heights of British sporting achievement. It's an immense feat of physical and mental ability and aptitude."

He went on: "I think the whole country wants to say 'well done, brilliant', the perfect backdrop and start to the Olympics.

"It will put the country in the right mood. It's going to be an incredible festival of sport we're going to see. Bradley and the whole team's great success in the Tour de France - I watched Mark Cavendish's great sprint finish as well - that whole team performance will lift the spirits of the country."

Sport and Olympics Minister Hugh Robertson agreed with Cameron as the nation basked in the glory of a historical day.

"Bradley Wiggins' triumph goes down as one of the great achievements in British sporting history," Robertson said. "It is a superb feat of endurance, skill and sporting excellence and he has been backed by an outstanding team.

"I congratulate him, his fellow riders, (general manager) Dave Brailsford and everyone at Team Sky who have worked so hard to bring about this first ever British win."

Ian Drake, CEO of British Cycling, applauded Wiggins' triumph but was not prepared to put a number on the medals Team GB cyclists could win at the Games.

He told BBC Breakfast: "We will be in the best condition possible and what you will actually see, you will probably see a better spread of medals across other cycling disciplines potentially in BMXing and mountain biking."