Gary Wiggins
Encyclopedia
Gary Wiggins was an Australian professional cyclist, specialising in six-day racing
. His son is the British rider, Bradley Wiggins
.
Gary Wiggins represented Australia several times at world track championships. He was national champion in the 1 km time trial, and the 4000m team pursuit as part of the Victoria state team. He had a surge of speed at the end of races, which won sprint finishes. He moved to the United Kingdom in 1976 and raced as an amateur for Archer Road Club
in west London. He met Linda, whom he married in January 1979, then moved to Ghent
, Belgium
. Bradley was born there in 1980. The marriage broke down in 1982 and Wiggins had no contact with his son, who returned to London
with his mother, for 14 years. Wiggins returned to Australia after a crash in Copenhagen in January 1987 .
On 25 January 2008, he was found unconscious at 7am, in Segenhoe Street, Aberdeen
, New South Wales
. He was taken to Muswellbrook Hospital nearby before being airlifted to John Hunter Hospital
, Newcastle
, where he died.
1977
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
Six-day racing
A six or six-day is a track cycling race that lasts six days. Six-day races started in Britain, spread to many regions of the world, were brought to their modern style in the United States and are now mainly a European event. Initially, individuals competed alone, the winner being the individual...
. His son is the British rider, Bradley Wiggins
Bradley Wiggins
Bradley Marc Wiggins, CBE is a British professional track and road bicycle racer, currently riding for Team Sky. Wiggins' career began on the track, where he specialised in the pursuit and madison disciplines....
.
Gary Wiggins represented Australia several times at world track championships. He was national champion in the 1 km time trial, and the 4000m team pursuit as part of the Victoria state team. He had a surge of speed at the end of races, which won sprint finishes. He moved to the United Kingdom in 1976 and raced as an amateur for Archer Road Club
Archer Road Club
The Archer Road Club is a cycling club in London, England. The club has produced national, world and Olympic champions.-Formation and early history:...
in west London. He met Linda, whom he married in January 1979, then moved to Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. Bradley was born there in 1980. The marriage broke down in 1982 and Wiggins had no contact with his son, who returned to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
with his mother, for 14 years. Wiggins returned to Australia after a crash in Copenhagen in January 1987 .
On 25 January 2008, he was found unconscious at 7am, in Segenhoe Street, Aberdeen
Aberdeen, New South Wales
Aberdeen is a small town in the upper Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, Australia, in Upper Hunter Shire. It is located about 12 kilometres north of Muswellbrook on the New England Highway. Aberdeen is named after Aberdeen, Scotland. At the 2006 census, Aberdeen had a population of...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. He was taken to Muswellbrook Hospital nearby before being airlifted to John Hunter Hospital
John Hunter Hospital
The John Hunter Hospital is the principal referral centre and a community hospital for Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Northern New South Wales. It is the main teaching hospital of the University of Newcastle...
, Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
, where he died.
Palmarès
1976- 10th Chequers Grand Prix
1977
- 8th Tour of Essex
1979
- 3rd Dentergem (BEL)
1980
- 3rd Belsele (BEL)
- 2nd Eeklo (b) (BEL)
- 3rd Zele (b) (BEL)
- 2nd Sinaai (BEL)
- 2nd Petegem-aan-de-Leie (BEL)
- 4th Madison, European Track ChampionshipsEuropean Track ChampionshipsThe European Track Cycling Championships are the set of European championship events for the various disciplines and distances in track cycling and are regulated by the European Cycling Union...
1981
- 3rd Beringen (BEL)
- 1st Eeklo (b) (BEL)
- 1st Melle (BEL)
- 4th Circuit Escaut-Durme
- 6th Omloop van Brecht
1982
- 3rd Dentergem (BEL)
- 3rd Westrozebeke (BEL)
1983
- 3rd Essen (GER)
- 2nd Madison, European Track ChampionshipsEuropean Track ChampionshipsThe European Track Cycling Championships are the set of European championship events for the various disciplines and distances in track cycling and are regulated by the European Cycling Union...
- 3rd Petegem-aan-de-Leie (BEL)
- 1st Madison, Trexlertown (with Brian Tilley) (USA)
1984
- 2nd Bremen, Six Days (GER)
- 1st Madison, European Track ChampionshipsEuropean Track ChampionshipsThe European Track Cycling Championships are the set of European championship events for the various disciplines and distances in track cycling and are regulated by the European Cycling Union...
(with Tony DoyleTony Doyle (cyclist)Anthony Doyle MBE is an English former professional cyclist.-Biography:Doyle was world pursuit champion in 1980 and 1986. He was a professional between 1980 and 1995, riding for British teams....
) - 2nd Six-Days of GrenobleSix-Days of GrenobleThe Six Days of Grenoble is a six-day track cycling race held annually in Grenoble, France.It takes place in the Palais des Sports in Grenoble since 1971.The 2010 event is scheduled to take place from 28 October to 2 November.-External links:*...
(FRA) - 2nd Ulm (GER)
- 1st Nienburg (GER)
- 2nd Petegem-aan-de-Leie (BEL)
1985
- 1st Bremen Six (GER) (with Tony DoyleTony Doyle (cyclist)Anthony Doyle MBE is an English former professional cyclist.-Biography:Doyle was world pursuit champion in 1980 and 1986. He was a professional between 1980 and 1995, riding for British teams....
) - 2nd Madison, European Track ChampionshipsEuropean Track ChampionshipsThe European Track Cycling Championships are the set of European championship events for the various disciplines and distances in track cycling and are regulated by the European Cycling Union...
(with Tony DoyleTony Doyle (cyclist)Anthony Doyle MBE is an English former professional cyclist.-Biography:Doyle was world pursuit champion in 1980 and 1986. He was a professional between 1980 and 1995, riding for British teams....
) - 3rd München, Six Days (GER)
- 1st Stage 2 Griffin 1000 West (AUS)
- 1st Stage 4 Griffin 1000 West (AUS)
1986
- 2nd Launceston, Six Days (AUS)