Bradley Wiggins drops in unannounced to a Doncaster social club

Sir Bradley Wiggins popped into a social club in Doncaster to take a look at its collection of Tom Simpson memorabilia, including one of his race bikes.

Wiggins reportedly made an unannounced visit to the Bircotes and Harworth Sports and Social Club at lunchtime on Monday, December 5, much to the bemusement of locals, some of whom did not recognise him, reports the Doncaster Free Press.

Wiggins was shown some of the exhibits by Simpson’s nephew and Cycling Weekly contributor Chris Sidwells.

Club staff member Ian Gordon said: “I just asked him if he wanted a drink but he wasn’t bothered. Nobody really recognised him to be honest and we didn’t know much about it until he’d gone.”

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Before Wiggins won the 2012 Tour de France, Simpson was among the most successful British cyclists on the world stage, having been the first British rider to wear the maillot jaune of Tour race leader in 1962.

It is still an exclusive club: along with Wiggins and Simpson, only five other British riders have led the Tour.

Wiggins is a well-known aficionado of cycling history, and has built up an enviable collection of classic bikes, some of which previously belonged to cycling champions such as Miguel Indurain and Gianni Bugno.

Wiggins is currently pondering his future in the sport of cycling. After initially saying that he would retire at the end of 2016, the 36-year-old hinted after he won the Ghent Six Day with Mark Cavendish that he may continue.

He has also found himself at the centre of controversy during 2016 after hacking group Fancy Bears published Wiggins’s therapeutic use exemption (TUE) certificates that showed he had received injections of corticosteroids, including before his 2012 Tour win. Wiggins was also the recipient of a ‘mystery’ package at the 2011 Critérium du Dauphiné, which was discussed at length by a parliamentary select committee on Monday.

In addition to his 2012 Tour and Ghent Six wins, Wiggins has won Paris-Nice, the Critérium du Dauphiné twice, the Tour of Britain, Tour of California, the world time trial title, the Hour record and eight Olympic medals, including five gold.