"He's one of the main reasons I'm doing well today" - Bradley Wiggins thanks Lance Armstrong after rough period
Cycling
Bradley Wiggins is one of the greatest legends in British cycling history both on the road and on the track. However the 45-year old went through a very rough period in the years following his retirement from pro cycling; and was widely helped by Lance Armstrong.
However, he fell into a deep hole after his retirement from professional sports, with problems of alcoholism, drug addiction and bankruptcy: "For many years I was a functional cocaine addict. Most people didn't notice. I was under the effects most of the time. At some point I realized I had a very serious problem and needed to stop. I'm lucky to be alive," Wiggins acknowledged in an interview for The Observer.
In the middle of his recovery process was an unlikely figure: "Lance has been very good to me. I know it's not something everyone wants to hear, because a lot of people only want to hear negative things. But you can only judge by how you are treated, and he has been a constant source of inspiration and support".
"He's one of the main reasons I'm doing well today, both physically and mentally. I'm very grateful to him." Adding that he would even check in with his family for more news: "I would ask my son, 'How's your dad,' and Ben would reply, 'I haven't heard from him in a couple of weeks; I know he's living in a hotel. For days they didn't hear from me. Now I can talk about all this openly. Living a lie, hiding it, there was something about it that got me."
The Briton will also be part of 'The Move' podcast, headlined by Armstrong, during the upcoming Tour de France, in which they provide daily commentary on the stages. His son Ben Wiggins has also in the meantime making his way through the under-23 ranks with a bright future ahead, currently racing for the Hagens Bermans Jayco.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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