Sir Bradley Wiggins has opened up on how he is to check into a rehabilitation facility for trauma counselling after admitting to becoming a ‘functioning addict’, with a disgraced sports star covering the cost
Sir Bradley Wiggins is preparing to enter a rehabilitation centre for trauma therapy.
Following his retirement from cycling in December 2016, the Tour de France winner and five-time Olympic gold medallist has battled with substance abuse. The cycling legend has previously been open about his mental health struggles, acknowledging he had become a ‘functioning addict’.
Speaking to The Times, Wiggins revealed how his children, Isabella and Ben, who are involved with British Cycling, had attempted to find help for him after becoming worried.
In June 2024, the 45-year-old, who had allegedly amassed a £13m fortune during his peak years, also declared bankruptcy. A firm owned by Wiggins was reported to owe approximately £1million in debts.
During an appearance at the Barbican in York on Wednesday, the former professional cyclist disclosed he would be travelling to the United States to enter a specialist facility, with Lance Armstrong covering the costs.
“I still speak to him and see him,” Wiggins stated, according to The Sun. “I’m off to America on Friday. He’s paid for me to go and see a top trauma counselling clinic in Utah, so I’m looking forward to that.”
The British star developed a friendship with Armstrong prior to his retirement, having raced in identical competitions throughout their respective careers. Wiggins continued: “He’s offered me a role back in cycling, a platform which doesn’t involve me getting on a bike.”
Armstrong recruited Wiggins to present coverage of the Tour de France on ‘The Move’ podcast last year. The duo collaborated throughout the summer, attracting thousands of viewers on YouTube and Apple Podcasts.
The American was stripped of all seven of his Tour de France yellow jerseys after confessing to using performance-enhancing drugs. Nevertheless, Wiggins has consistently admired Armstrong.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live during the summer, the Brit remarked: “He’s been a great strength to me and a great inspiration to me, and it’s on a human level. Lance has been very, very good to me.
“That’s not something everyone wants to hear because people only like to hear the bad stuff. You can only take someone how they treat you and Lance has been a source of inspiration to me and a constant source of help towards me and is one of the main factors why I’m in this position I am today mentally and physically, so, I’m indebted to him for that.”
During his BBC interview, Wiggins acknowledged that he wishes he had spoken out earlier. He explained: “We are all humans at the end of the day, and it is a human story, and I’ve had lots of events in my life that informed the problems I had in my life post-cycling.
“I’d never had therapy or counselling during my time as a cyclist because you’re perceived as a cyclist – or certainly when you’re an Olympic champion or the Tour de France winner – to be incredibly mentally strong.”
Wiggins clinched Olympic gold medals in 2004, 2008 and 2016. He also triumphed in the road time trial at the London 2012 Olympics, just a fortnight after his Tour de France victory.
“I was one for not taking on help as well or asking for help,” the Brit confessed. “I’m never going to make the same mistake twice, so I’ve sort of vowed that to myself. I’ve learned from the past.
“I’m coming up to 10 years to retirement and I knew nothing else other than cycling really, and having everything done for you on a daily basis. It took me a long time to adapt to normal life, as it were, and all the things that contribute to keeping me in a steady place.”
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