Great Britain were trailing for most of the 4,000m race, but they stormed back to beat the Australians by nearly a second and post a new world record time of 3 minutes 50.265 seconds.
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“My first memory as a child was to be there with my dad when he was racing it”, Wiggins added, nearly wistfully.
“I wanted to go out with this, I wanted it to end like this and not some crappy little race in the north of France, Paris- Tour in the rain”, referring to a road race which starts outside Paris.
The road in between was certainly one for the history books.
The win was Clancy’s third successive team pursuit Olympic gold and Burke’s second, while it’s a first for Olympic debutant Doull.
American gymnast Gabby Douglas had just won gold in the team event, but as her four team-mates stood to attention, their hands on their hearts to greet the Star Spangled Banner, the 20-year-old had her hands by her side, looking dejected.
Following the achievement of Wiggins, who has become only the fourth Briton to win medals at five different Olympics Games, we take a look at Team GB’s greatest Olympians.
Rio de Janeiro (CNN) A knighthood, Britain’s first Tour de France victor – and now his country’s most decorated Olympian. He became leaner, stronger and built up his endurance, becoming the centerpiece of the powerhouse squad of Team Sky.
Rather than chase Redgrave’s record of consecutive golds, Ainslie stepped away from his Olympic career after 2012 in order to focus on the America’s Cup.
Inside the hot velodrome at the Rio Olympics, Wiggins managed to accomplish yet another goal. “Sir Bradley Wiggins, you legend”.
Wiggins was tied with retired track cyclist Chris Hoy with seven medals apiece before winning his gold Friday night. The experienced duo extended their undefeated run to an incredible five years after another imperious performance, seeing off a late surge from New Zealand’s Genevieve Behrent and Rebecca Scown, who settled for silver.
Wiggins has said that he has had enough of the strict regime of endless training and sacrifices to his family life that comes with getting ready for another Olympic Games. “When he talks the talk he walks the walk”.
Of his team-mates, Ed Clancy won his third gold – all in the team pursuit – Steven Burke took his second in the same event while Owain Doull was taking part in his first Games.
“He’s just a phenomenal athlete”.
Hoy said: “I don’t think winning a medal of any colour at the Rio Olympics changes anything for Bradley”. “When he wants something he can get it”.
“It’s just more relief than anything”, he said after his gold-medal effort.
“I get to still wake up tomorrow as Olympic champion”. You live with it every day.
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The latter certainly now should be considered to be Britain’s greatest cyclist which, in itself, is a huge call considering we have Hoy and also three-time Tour de France victor Chris Froome in our ranks. Why? At events like the Six Days of Ghent, they let the crowd into the centre of the track as well, singing songs, throwing chips and beer.
