Amid the champagne-popping and jubilant celebrations on the Champs Elysees yesterday one individual felt a frisson of bitterness - Bradley Wiggins' bicycle.
"Let's face it, we bikes do half the work," said Raleigh, the Felt DA machine on which Wiggins rode to triumph. "In fact more than half when you consider our riders enjoy freewheeling down the mountains with the wind in their hair. We're still working at that point don't forget.
"Horses get treated better. Nice food and grooming. Cuddles. When they win the Derby they get to retire to stud. Best I can hope for is a life in a museum case being stared at by a bunch of kids.
"Wiggins gets a phone call from the Prime Minister. What do I get? I'll tell you.
"Sprayed with yellow paint and shoved into the back of the Sky van with nothing but a dab of 3 in 1.
"That's after carrying Wiggins round France for three weeks for bike's sake. And let me tell you his personal hygeine is nothing to write home about. I could go on but I won't."