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The Chain
'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.'
'IT'S NOT A LIGHT READ BUT, BLIMEY, IT IS BRILLIANT' POLLY VERNON, THE TIMES
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.
'IT'S NOT A LIGHT READ BUT, BLIMEY, IT IS BRILLIANT' POLLY VERNON, THE TIMES
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.
336 pages, Hardcover
Published October 23, 2025
2 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 22, 2025
It’s hard to know whether to rate this a 3- or a 4- … on the one hand it’s … yet another book by Wiggins … which does make one wonder if it’s just a cynical attempt to keep the money coming in.
And in places it comes across as pretty self-indulgent.
Basically the plot of Pink Floyd ‘The Wall’ … absent father, childhood trauma, cycling as a compulsive drug, then the traumas and memories surface in horrible realisation, leading to actual drugs (and drink) and deep unhappiness and anxiety with a final acceptance and coming through the other side
But on the other hand it’s power may also be that it says more about the reader … it deals with some very dark, very deep topics that will probably trigger something, to some degree, in those that read it (or listen to it, in my case) and mean different things to each of us.
So that might be its saving grace. Along with an attempt at a powerful message in the epilogue that recognises that many (most?) men of a certain age probably face mental health issues through periods of change of circumstance and identity
In the final analysis though I wish Wiggins well … I’m sure his internal struggles will continue on and off and he is ultimately brave publicising them in detail like this
And in places it comes across as pretty self-indulgent.
Basically the plot of Pink Floyd ‘The Wall’ … absent father, childhood trauma, cycling as a compulsive drug, then the traumas and memories surface in horrible realisation, leading to actual drugs (and drink) and deep unhappiness and anxiety with a final acceptance and coming through the other side
But on the other hand it’s power may also be that it says more about the reader … it deals with some very dark, very deep topics that will probably trigger something, to some degree, in those that read it (or listen to it, in my case) and mean different things to each of us.
So that might be its saving grace. Along with an attempt at a powerful message in the epilogue that recognises that many (most?) men of a certain age probably face mental health issues through periods of change of circumstance and identity
In the final analysis though I wish Wiggins well … I’m sure his internal struggles will continue on and off and he is ultimately brave publicising them in detail like this
November 24, 2025
Purchased this book (signed by the Author) at a Topping's book event listening to Bradley Wiggins talk about this book. Ironically in a church in Edinburgh where he did mention the irony at one point when he swore! This is not a book about cycling and I suppose I knew that having heard that he had been declared bankrupt and a fall from grace in terms of addiction post all the 2012 Tour and Olympics glory years ago.
It is not an easy read on the demons that he has faced and the trauma in his early life from a broken home in inner London growing up with a petty shit Dad and suffering abuse as a young cyclist. Whilst he is obviously honest about his story post 2012 it was raw to read and as a Sport's hero it did make me think what is different about Bradley Wiggins vs other sporting greats who have dealt with the fame post retirement. However, to be at rock bottom and to now be clean plus all the spotlight he has had through his life it is presented straight forwardly in the book.
Listening to him speak in person was not what I thought it would be but you have to buy the book right? IT is his story to tell.
It is not an easy read on the demons that he has faced and the trauma in his early life from a broken home in inner London growing up with a petty shit Dad and suffering abuse as a young cyclist. Whilst he is obviously honest about his story post 2012 it was raw to read and as a Sport's hero it did make me think what is different about Bradley Wiggins vs other sporting greats who have dealt with the fame post retirement. However, to be at rock bottom and to now be clean plus all the spotlight he has had through his life it is presented straight forwardly in the book.
Listening to him speak in person was not what I thought it would be but you have to buy the book right? IT is his story to tell.
December 19, 2025
brutally honest covering many things many fables from newspapers and the roller coaster of a life that he has had. At times you feel that you are in a psychiatrist chair with him.
in some memoirs of famous people who have taken recreational drugs there are amusing anecdotes but in this it is said as a bleak part of his life
in some memoirs of famous people who have taken recreational drugs there are amusing anecdotes but in this it is said as a bleak part of his life
December 21, 2025
I would place this on. 3.5 star, however, this was a fascinating read and shows how, even the top performers can break. It also shows what he had to go through before realising to asking for help. It does make you think of who is truly out there that will always have your back when asking for help.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews