Bradley Wiggins knighted in new years honours list

Bradley Wiggins has been given a knighthood in the new years honours list following a sensational year for the British cyclist. In July Wiggins became the first Briton to win the Tour de France and ten days later won Olympic gold in the time trial.

Great Britain's performance director and Team Sky boss Dave Brailsford was also knighted while Sarah Storey became a Dame and Victoria Pendleton was awarded a CBE.

In total, 14 honours were given to members of the British cycling team.

Speaking to the BBC Wiggins said; "I never ever imagined that I would ever become a knight, so it's an incredible honour. But there's a slight element of disbelief and it will take a while to sink in."

"[The French] will love it," he continued. "It will add to the myth. I will have to get a bowler hat as well. They are fascinated slightly with our Britishness, our culture and things like knighthoods, so it is a nice thing to have."

The title is yet more recognition of Wiggins's achievements, earlier in December he won the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year title ahead of heptathlete Jessica Ennis and tennis player Andy Murray, taking 30 per cent of the vote.

Brailsford said receiving the award felt slightly weird and that he was just one person in a team, all of whom deserve the recognition.

Storey becomes a Dame for her services to para-cycling. She won four Paralympic gold medals in London this year to add to her medal haul that stretches back to the Barcelona Paralympics in 1992 when she won two swimming golds.

In total she has 11 gold medals, a tally that brings her level with Baroness Tani Grey-Thompson. But Storey has 22 medals in total, making her Britain's greatest paralympian.

Ben Ainslie was the only other Olympian to be knighted after London 2012.

Cyclists honoured in the new years honours list

Bradley Wiggins - Knighthood

David Brailsford - Knighthood

Sarah Storey - Dame

Victoria Pendleton - CBE

Jason Kenny - OBE

Laura Trott - OBE

Steven Burke - MBE

Mark Colbourne - MBE

Neil Fachie - MBE

Philip Hindes - MBE

Peter Kennaugh - MBE

Dani King - MBE

Craig MacLean - MBE

Joanna Rowsell - MBE

Related links

Wiggins named Cycling Weekly's 2012 Rider of the Year

Wiggins's pre Giro 2013 race schedule