'Back in 2012, everyone knew who Bradley Wiggins was. Everyone, that is, but me. Thirteen years after the summer that defined me, I have finally defined myself. The disguises have gone. I've made peace with myself.'
A WATERSTONES SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025
A GUARDIAN BEST SPORTS BOOK OF 2025
A DAILY TELEGRAPH BEST BOOK OF 2025
'WHAT A STORY. SO HONEST. I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN. THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY.' JOE WICKS
'IT'S NOT A LIGHT READ BUT, BLIMEY, IT IS BRILLIANT.' POLLY VERNON, THE TIMES
'DISARMINGLY HONEST AND ROGUISHLY HUMOROUS.' JONATHAN LIEW, THE GUARDIAN
'SUCH A BRAVE BOOK: SUPER OPEN, SUPER HONEST. IT'S GOING TO HELP A LOT OF PEOPLE.' CHRIS EVANS, VIRGIN RADIO
'SEARING AND INSIGHTFUL … HARROWING … COMPELLING …DEFINITELY WORTH READING.' DAVID WALSH, THE SUNDAY TIMES
'RAW AND GRAPHIC' DAILY TELEGRAPH
Think you know Bradley Wiggins? Think again.
Join Bradley Wiggins on a remarkable journey of self-discovery during which he faced his greatest ever opponent – the demons inside his head. He has cast aside his fragile shell and is the person he always wanted to be. Finally, he is happy in his own skin. He has broken the chain.
Bradley Wiggins is the greatest British cyclist of his generation. A national hero on both track and road, he won five Olympic gold medals, eight world titles and the Tour de France.
But his is a story mired in contradiction, controversy, and confusion. Sat on a throne after winning gold at London 2012, just ten days after becoming the first Briton to win the Tour de France, here was a man with the world at his feet. Sporting hero. People’s champion. Legend. Everyone knew who ‘Wiggo’ was. Everyone, that is, but him.
Bradley’s own truth was one of a chaotic and disturbing upbringing characterised by abandonment and abuse. The bike had been his escape but he knew that the second he got out of the saddle he was a shadow-man with no self-belief and even less self-worth.
With zero confidence in his value as a human being, attention was his worst nightmare. Bradley’s answer was to wear a mask. He became ‘Sir Wiggo’, the loveable rogue, the disguise slowly suffocating the real him, crushing the last few remnants of self-esteem.
Bradley descended into a deep personal despair marked by drug addiction. It was his lowest point, and one which, he freely admits, could have resulted in his death.
Bradley’s saviour has been himself. Incredibly he found the strength to embark on a remarkable journey of self-discovery during which he faced his greatest ever opponent – the demons inside his head. In so doing he reached an understanding of what and who he is.
The result is this powerful memoir, The Chain.
It is a journey he now wants to share. He wants others to understand they are not alone in their mental battles; that embracing honesty and openness is the key to personal happiness.
Bradley Wiggins has cast aside his fragile shell. Now, as the person he always wanted to be, he has become an inspiration to us all. Forget the jerseys, the medals. Finally, Bradley Wiggins is who he is, in his own skin. He has broken the chain.
Born in Belgium in 1980 and raised in London, Sir Bradley Wiggins is the greatest cyclist the UK has produced. In a long and distinguished career, he won five Olympic gold medals and eight World Championship titles.
In 2012 he became the first Briton to win the Tour de France. Just ten days later he won Time Trial gold at the London Olympics then and cemented his National Treasure status by being voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year. The boom in cycling in the UK is often attributed to his exploits in that momentous year.
Wiggins was knighted for services to cycling in 2013 and broke the hour record in 2015. He retired from professional cycling at the end of 2016.
He lives in London.
