Bradley Wiggins: a fashion icon is born – in pictures

The sideburns While the rest of him is designed to glide through the air as smoothly as is possible on a bike, Wiggins was willing to risk his lead just a little bit, or at least sacrifice some drag, for his trademark sideburns. They've become such a signature that fans on the Tour have even taken to wearing masks featuring stick-on versions. Whether they'll spawn a real hair style trend is yet to be seen Photograph: David Levene

The Fred Perry look It makes sense that Wiggins loves a Fred Perry polo shirt – they’re central to the mod look. Collaborating with the brand (which was of course started by another iconic British sportsman) this year, the result is a series of three polo shirts. Complete with cycling-jersey style zips at the neck, and the stripes of the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) on the sleeves, they were released last month, and Wiggins proudly models one in his Twitter profile picture. Available in white, sky blue and black, perhaps he thought yellow would have been tempting fate
Photograph: Fred Perry PR

The tats If most professional footballers seem to have covered their bodies with tattoos by the time they’re 25, leading members of the cycling squad are perhaps less body art-inclined. Wiggins, however, has several. The names of his children, Ben and Isabella, are written above his heart, while ‘B’s on the base of each thumb are similar mementos to spur him on during any tricky bits of the race. Add a sun-style graphic on one arm and a somewhat-scary, screaming face that looks a bit like one of the engineers out of Prometheus on his shoulder and Wiggins is looking, once again, like cycling’s most rock'n’roll competitor
Photograph: PA

The shades Contrasting with the mod look of the rest of his image, Wiggins’ ever-present sunglasses are a practical measure that show his sportsman side coming out. The wrap-around shape with mirrored lenses are by extreme sports favourites Oakley, who sponsor Wiggins. Called the Radarpath style, they look more futuristic than fashion-friendly. Still, Wiggins’ natural style flair can’t be completely suppressed. With the shades in yellow, they match the helmet and, of course, that proudly-won jersey
Photograph: Getty Images

The skinniness Amphetamines and all-night dancing helped make a skinny silhouette became part of the mod aesthetic. Wiggins achieves his physique without any drugs. His sinewy frame – all lean limbs and scrawny chest – keeps the bike light, of course, but it also means he’d always look the part in a classic three-button suit. Never a bad thing
Photograph: Scott Mitchell

While the rest of him is designed to glide through the air as smoothly as is possible on a bike, Wiggins was willing to risk his lead just a little bit, or at least sacrifice some drag, for his trademark sideburns Photograph: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

The Mod thing As a self-confessed mod fan, 32-year-old Wiggins was reportedly listening to The Jam when he first training as a teenager and counts their singer Paul Weller and The Who’s Pete Townshend as style influencers. Further mod approval will also no doubt come from a collection of scooters – the proud owner of a silver 1979 PX125, he also admires the Lambretta Phil Daniels rides in mod classic Quadrophenia – and the fact that as he said in 2008, “anything from the 1980s onwards I leave alone, really”. Add to that classic feathered French Crop hairstyle and a shoe fetish for brogues and Adidas Originals, and Wiggins might be sports’ first bona fide mod hero Photograph: Karen Robinson/Karen Robinson