“It’s just more relief really, than anything”, Wiggins said.
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“The medical team have put 1,000 man hours into my back to get me here”. It was a disgusting race to be in.
Asked whether he will now retire, the 2012 Tour de France victor said: “My kids need a proper dad in their lives. My wife needs a proper husband”, he said. As we’re guessing you’re probably going to be drunk by the time you read this, ‘ the note read. Hats off to the Australians.
“I’m happy and content with what I’ve done now”.
It cemented Britain’s recent dominance in this event at the Olympics, having won gold at the past three Games.
Gong and Zhong had also set the fastest time at the world championships in London earlier this year but were again relegated in the final against Russian pair Daria Shmeleva and Anastasia Voinova.
Owain Doull, Steven Burke and Ed Clancy joined the 36-year-old to beat the Australia team of Sam Welsford, Michael Hepburn, Alexander Edmondson, and Jack Bobridge in a time of 3:50.265.
In the bronze-medal showdown, Denmark comfortably got the better of New Zealand.
But Wiggins, Doull and team had a game plan and they stuck to it, though they didn’t overhaul their rivals advantage until the last 400m of the 4,000m race.
Katie Greves, Melanie Wilson, Frances Houghton, Polly Swann, Jessica Eddie, Olivia Carnegie-Brown, Karen Bennett, Zoe Lee and cox Zoe de Toledo crossed the line in six minutes 3.98 seconds – just 0.12 seconds ahead of the bronze medallists.
“It was a scrappy one”, Doull said.
“It’s surreal. To pull it off now is unbelievable”.
“I’ve watched this team win Olympic golds in Beijing and London and now I’m part of it, it’s an unbelievable feeling”.
Wiggins said: “It’s hard to come off after that and not spout a load of cliches and emotional stuff but for 12 months us four guys have done everything together, training camps at altitude, early morning starts at the track, late finishes at the track before Christmas Day, all for this”. “We concentrated on making the best race possible”.
Fellow Brit Katarina Johnson Thompson is in fourth after she staked her claim for a medal with an excellent first day in which she broke the British high jump record.
Wiggins returns home from Rio today after delivering his fifth Olympic gold and record eighth medal in the British cause.
“He’s the greatest British cyclist of all time because of what he’s done across the board in so many disciplines”. “The atmosphere is very special”.
“I have to go back to my next historical base and the Ghent Six Day, which is where I want to end it”.
“It was never about that [becoming Britain’s greatest, most decorated Olympian] for me”.
“I am getting annoyed these cyclists are pushing me down the list!”
“I just wanted to come here and enjoy these Olympic Games and win this medal, that’s all”.
It took 3500 meters for Great Britain to draw level with the Australian men’s team pursuit team, another 250 to pass them, and then 250 more to seal the deal.
Their comrades in the women’s pursuit team – who would also claim gold the following night – certainly had that expectation.
“To the team pursuit men … I never thought for one minute I would win five golds”.
Wiggins’ celebrity was launched in Britain, not only for his superb victories, but for his cool, laid-back demeanour.
He accomplished his goal in the unforgettable summer of 2012.
“He has represented his country and his sport with great distinction over the years, and we at British Cycling are exceptionally proud of Sir Bradley and his team-mates after what was a spectacular performance this evening”.
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The 31-year-old Manxman claimed Wiggins was “super stressed” in the lead-up and had frozen him out of the team pursuit squad.
