Who became the first British rider to win the Tour de France in 2012?

Bradley Wiggins became the first British rider to win the Tour de France in 2012. His victory was a landmark for British road cycling and came during a breakthrough year for the sport in Britain.

Wiggins, riding for Team Sky, took control of the race after the first mountain stage and defended the yellow jersey through the Alps and Pyrenees. He was especially strong in the individual time trials, winning both long time-trial stages. His teammate Chris Froome finished second overall, while Vincenzo Nibali was third.

The result is sometimes confused with Mark Cavendish, who won several stages in 2012, or Froome, who later won the Tour four times. Wiggins finished 3 minutes 21 seconds ahead of Froome and completed the Tour on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. Later that summer, he also won Olympic time-trial gold in London, making 2012 the defining season of his career.