Wiggins effect: Bradley’s Tour win lifts spirits
AS if ending Britain’s 99-year wait for a Tour de France winner and re-popularising the elongated sideburn were not enough, Bradley Wiggins has also been credited with boosting the nation’s Olympic feelgood factor to an all-time high.
Wiggo’s triumph in Paris prompted an increase in positive feelings towards the Games from Britons on Twitter to 84 per cent, according to research by EDF Energy, which is measuring our response to London 2012 on the social network.
Following his victory on Sunday there was an eight per cent rise in the UK’s positive feelings towards the Games – from an average of 66 per cent on Saturday to 74 per cent once the Kilburn-raised cyclist had crossed the finish line.
Wiggins, who will be looking to add to his six Olympic medals when he competes in the road race and individual time trial, triggered some 50,000 tweets with his Tour win, including messages from the likes of Eddie Izzard, Sir Alan Sugar and recent Wimbledon winner Roger Federer.