Never mind the Olympics. All of Britain is already celebrating a historic sporting moment thanks to the exploits of the sideburned Bradley Wiggins.
Known to his friends in Chorley, Lancashire, simply as 'Wiggo', the Englishman has caught the imagination of the country after becoming the first Briton to win the Tour de France. Just imagine Andy Murray winning Wimbledon and you can guess the degree of euphoria sweeping through this nation readying to host the biggest show on earth.
One British newspaper put Wiggins's feat in perspective when it pointed out that seven years ago there was no British cyclist in the Tour de France. It said this was due to a historical lack of interest in the sport, adding cheekily that this was also partly down to a sense that the race was unwinnable by anyone possessed of a sense of fair play.
Cheating and cycling have become almost synonymous, more so now that the seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, the man who helped romanticise the event, is facing doping probes in the United States.
But Wiggins has proved true British grit and the Corinthian spirit of fair play is a potent enough cocktail to spur one to victory. A week ago, when the race was up in the energy-sapping Pyrenees, somebody scattered sharp metal tacks across the road. This resulted in about 30 cyclists suffering punctures just before one of the most dangerous downhill stretches of the race.
Wiggins was not one of the casualties, but he slowed down because he felt taking advantage was not the right thing to do. This has earned him accolades from all quarters. Not only is he a champion, he is also a gentleman. He proved winning need not come at all costs.