Bradley Wiggins (Garmin-Slipstream) ended the Tour de France fourth overall, 6-01 behind Alberto Contador and 37 seconds behind Lance Armstrong, equalling Robert Millar’s British record of fourth place in 1984.

Now, after all the pain of three weeks in the saddle and the mental pressure of always being a contender, Wiggins can finally sit back and celebrate his achievement. He probably does not know, but his life and career will probably never be the same.

“This last week has been a long old week and I’m pleased its done now,” Wiggins said just a few minutes after the stage ended in Paris.

“The last three weeks have changed everything for me. Obviously I really need to rethink about the next few years. And realistically, I think I can come back next year and try and get on the podium.”

“I’m not going to say I can win the Tour de France but to repeat this ride or get on the podium will be something.”

Spirit of Simpson

Wiggins rode the stage to the summit of Mont Ventoux with a photograph of Tom Simpson, who died on the climb, on his top tube. He is honoured to be regarded as a Tour contender like Simpson and says sealing fourth overall on Mont Ventoux was his best moment of the Tour.

“Equalling the great Robert Millar and surpassing the even greater Tom Simpson is pretty special. I do realise what I achieved because I’ve got a great deal of respect for the sport and for what people have done before me,” he told the BBC’s Phil Sheehan in Paris.

“The Tour de France is the biggest bike race in the world. Just to be part of it is fantastic. To do something in it is beyond words.”

“I think Monaco was a great result but people expected that. Andorra was the breakthrough stage and then Verbier was pretty special. But I think most of all sealing it on the Ventoux was the ultimate. This has been a pretty special Tour all round.”

Wiggins has no regrets about finishing fourth behind Contador, Andy Schleck and Armstrong.

“It’s no mean feat finishing behind the three guys on the podium. And I don’t mind admitting that they are much better bike riders than I am. I’m just pleased to be in their company,” he said.

“To be on the podium this year would have been a bit of a cheek. To finish fourth is quite nice. I’m there but not quite there and those guys deserve to be on the podium.”

As Tom Simpson would have perhaps said, a place in the 2010 Tour de France is something to aim for.

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TOUR DE FRANCE 2009 LINKS

Tour de France 2009 – the hub: Index to reports, photos, previews and more.

STAGE REPORTS

Stage 21: Cavendish wins on Champs Elysees as Contador wins 2009 Tour

Stage 20: Contador’s Tour lead safe; Wiggins retains fourth overall on Ventoux

Stage 19: Five star Cavendish wins Tour stage in to Aubenas

Stage 18: Contador tightens grip on the maillot jaune

Stage 17: Schleck brothers overhaul Wiggins as Frank wins the stage

Stage 16: Astarloza snatches Alps stage win as contenders wind up the pace

Stage 15: Contador wins in Verbier as Tour explodes into life

Stage 14: Ivanov wins as Nocentini clings onto yellow



Stage 13: Haussler braves rain for victory in Colmar

Stage 12: Sorensen wins in Vittel as Cavendish goes for green

Stage 11: Cavendish takes fourth win to equal Hoban’s record

Stage 10: Cavendish spoils Bastille Day party to take third stage win

Stage nine: Third French win as contenders content with ceasefire



stage eight: Sanchez wins from break as Tour favourites cancel each other out

Stage seven: Feillu wins at Arcalis, Nocentini takes yellow, Contador leap-frogs Lance

Stage six: Millar’s brave bid denied on Barcelona hill as Hushovd triumphs

Stage five: Voeckler survives chase to win his first Tour stage

Stage four: Astana on top but Armstrong misses yellow by hundredths of a second

Live Tour de France stage four TTT coverage

Stage three: Cavendish wins second stage as Armstrong distances Contador

Stage two: Cavendish takes first sprint

Stage one: Cancellara wins opening time trial

LATEST TOUR NEWS

Tour de France 2009 News Index>>

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Wiggins set for Ventoux showdown at the Tour

Radio Shack confirmed as Armstrong’s new backer

Astana to split after Tour

Voigt crashes out of Tour

Armstrong fighting hard for Tour podium place

Wiggins gets closer to Tour podium place

Who’s won what so far in the Tour de France

How the Tour favourite are doing (Rest day 2)

Wiggins climbs to third in Tour overall

Armstrong concedes he can’t win the 2009 Tour

Tom Boonen quits the Tour de France

Stage 15 analysis: Is the Tour now over?

Columbia criticise Garmin for chasing Hincapie

Cavendish reveals he is going for green

EXCLUSIVE VIDEOS

Mont Ventoux preview

Garmin-Slipstream’s HQ before the Tour

David Zabriskie’s time trial bike

Mark Cavendish on the Tour’s team time trial

David Brailsford interview

Mark Cavendish on the Tour

Jonathan Vaughters on Bradley Wiggins’ chances



TOUR DE FRANCE 2009 PHOTOS

Stage



20 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 19 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 18 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 17 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 16 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 15 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 14 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 13 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 12 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 11 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage 10 photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage nine photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage eight photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage seven photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage six photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage five photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage four TTT photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage three photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage two photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage one photo gallery by Andy Jones

Stage one photo gallery by Graham Watson

Team presentation by Andy Jones

Team presentation by Graham Watson

TOUR GUIDE

Tour de France 2009 – the hub

Tour de France 2009: Who’s riding

Tour de France 2009: Team guide

About the Tour de France

FEATURES

Tour de France 2009: Who will win?

Tour de France 2009 on TV: Eurosport and ITV4 schedules

Big names missing from 2009 Tour de France

Tour de France anti-doping measures explained

Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Cavendish

Cycling Weekly’s rider profiles

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