Wiggins wins 2012 Tour de France Rider is first Briton to win cycling's premier race Bradley Wiggins became the first Briton to win the Tour de France, after safely protecting the yellow jersey during Sunday's final processional ride into Paris. He even helped Sky teammate Mark Cavendish earn his fourth straight sprint victory on the Champs-Elysees. Wiggins secured his win with a dominating performance in Saturday's final time trial to extend his already commanding lead. Fellow Briton and Sky teammate Christopher Froome finished second, 3 minutes, 21 seconds behind overall. Vincenzo Nibali of Italy finished third, 6:19 off the pace. The last time two riders from the same nation finished first and second in the Tour was in 1984, when Frenchman Laurent Fignon defeated Bernard Hinault.