Wiggins clinches Dauphine victory

Bradley Wiggins has become only the third British rider to win the Dauphine Libere, the traditional Tour de France tune-up.

The Team Sky rider went into today’s final mountainous stage of the eight-day race with a lead of just one minute and 21 seconds.

That could easily have disappeared over the 117.5 Alpine kilometres from Pontcharra to La Toussuire today.

But the Londoner held on for what is a landmark win for himself and Sky.

In the race’s 64-year history the only British riders to have won are Wiggins, Robert Millar in 1990 and Brian Robinson in 1961.

Wiggins even slightly stretched his lead after rolling in 10 seconds behind Spanish stage winner Joaquin Rodriguez of Katusha.

The 31-year-old finished 1min 26secs ahead of Australian Cadel Evans of BMC Racing, who will be one of his rivals for Tour success next month.