If Bradley Wiggins is awarded the coveted BBC Sports Personality of the Year award–and it would take a brave man to bet against it–then there is likely to be one name at the top of his list of acknowledgements: Chris Froome. Froome was instrumental in Wiggins’ recent success in the Tour de France and rode selflessly to help his Team Sky teammate become the first Briton to win the prestigious event, taking second place himself.

Just a week after the Tour ended, Wiggins and Froome were again in action, but this time at the London 2012 Olympic Games. The pair were unfortunately unsuccessful in their attempts to help another Team Sky rider, Mark Cavendish, to a gold in the grueling road race, but both picked up medals in the time trial event, Wiggins taking gold and Froome picking up bronze.

While Froome’s talents are anything but unknown, he has often gone under the radar, with compatriots Wiggins and Cavendish often in the limelight. The unprecedented success of the British cycling team at London 2012, including stellar performances from the likes of Sir Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton, may have created the perfect atmosphere for Froome to make the step up into cycling’s elite.

With both Cavendish and Wiggins taking some time off, the upcoming Vuelta a España, or Spanish Tour, will see Froome lead Team Sky’s charge for continued success. The mountainous tour, which begins on August 18, is highly suited to Froome’s strengths and has lead to many experts suggesting that the tour could be a two horse race, with Froome facing off against former champion Albert Contador.

Although Spaniard Contador will enjoy sizeable support from the home crowd, Froome will be confident of improving on his second place overall position at the 2011 Vuelta a España. Froome enjoys the expert tutelage of Team Sky general manager Dave Brailsford, who is also performance director for British Cycling, and is currently perhaps the most sought after coach in the cycling world. His philosophy of ‘the aggregation of marginal gains’ is the driving force behind the unparalleled success of the British team at both Beijing and London, making them the most successful track cycling team in modern history.

An impressive performance from Froome in this tour could also open the door for further success in the Tour de France. With the route of the 2013 Tour likely to be far more mountainous than the 2012 route, it would not be surprising if Team Sky threw their weight behind Froome, asking Wiggins to ride in more of a support role as Froome did in 2012. This of course is only speculation at this point, but a strong showing at the Vuelta a España will help push Team Sky’s hand.

It is important to remember that Froome is just 27 years of age, relatively young in cycling terms, and to win his first grand tour at this age would be a tremendous accolade for the Kenyan-born rider. While there is quite some time till the Vuelta a España finishes on September 9 in Madrid, things are looking good for Froome. He has all the attributes required to become one of the superstars of British, if not world cycling, and a victory here could be just what’s needed to propel him to the next level.

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London, England — The Commission for a Sustainable London 2012, cautions against complacency when it comes to securing the lasting legacy of the London Games. Following a hugely successful Games for Team GB, it is important that the determination required for sporting success is deployed to ensure that London 2012 is remembered as one of the most ambitious and successful sustainable regeneration projects too.

Shaun McCarthy, Chair, Commission for a Sustainable London 2012, said: “I have always seen London 2012 as a sustainable regeneration project interrupted by a few weeks of sport! There is no doubt that East London has exploded on to the world stage as a place to visit, live and work. However, much is still to be done. It is important that the London Legacy Development Corporation works to ensure the positive momentum gathered from the Games is not lost.”

According to the Commission, the work done to build a community after the Games is a notable achievement. The Olympic Village is set to deliver 2,700 homes; the operations centre will become a school; and the athletes’ polyclinic will become a modern GP clinic. This represents a major contribution to London’s housing shortage.

Jobs are key to legacy. The Commission was impressed by the contribution of the Games during the construction phase as 7,438 jobs came from the five host boroughs. Whilst figures for LOCOG are less clear, it is estimated that 6,000 people have been recruited through their local job brokerage scheme. Nonetheless, the Commission believes that local jobs are important and it encourages the legacy company to actively focus on jobs as much as the ODA and LOCOG have.

The next legacy challenge is promoting healthier lifestyles based on sport. The Commission believes getting more people active takes investment at a community level and a clear plan. Currently no such plan currently exists outside London. Supporting community and school sport will also give a chance for budding young athletes to become the sporting stars of the future.

The Commission for a Sustainable London 2012: The aim of the Commission is to provide independent assurance and commentary to enable the sustainability objectives of the London 2012 programme to be achieved and to support a sustainable legacy. The Commission tracks all the recommendations made here: http://www.cslondon.org/recommendations

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Andy Murray stunned Roger Federer to win the Olympic gold medal at Wimbledon yesterday just 28 days after a gut-wrenching defeat saw the Brit in tears on centre court.

Murray did not drop a set, beating the world number one 6-2, 6-1, 6-4, in a one-sided encounter which showed the world Murray is capable of beating the big guns on the big occasions.

It was revenge for the Scot who lost the Wimbledon final to the Swiss just a month earlier on the same court.

“It’s number one for me – the biggest win of my life,” said Murray., who took inspiration from team GB’s performance on the athletics field on Saturday night.

“I have had a lot of tough losses in my career and this is the best way to come back from the Wimbledon final.”

Murray had  beaten world number two Novak Djokovic in straight sets in the semi-final and looks to be in imperious form entering the American hard-court season.

Many believe this could be the boost the Brit needs to win his first grand slam.

He will now prepare for the final major of the year – the US Open – and will enter with renewed confidence.

“I hope this will give me the confidence to go there and believe in myself a bit more than I have in the past,” said Murray, whose straight sets victory on Sunday was his first in five sets over Federer.

“Hopefully I can have a good run and give myself a shot at winning.

“I’ve had a lot of questions asked about me many times. I’m just glad I managed to put on a performance I’ve been waiting for.

“It was a huge match for me. It was a big match for Roger as well. I’m sure he would have wanted to win the gold – it’s one of the few things he hasn’t done in his singles career.

“To win today, in the way I did, makes those losses a little bit easier to take. It will help with the way I go into the [Grand Slam] matches and I hope it will make me a better player.”

Murray went on to claim a silver medal in the mixed doubles with Laura Robson. They lost in the championship tiebreak to number one seeds Victoria Azerenka and Max Mirnyi.

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Britain’s men won a surprising bronze medal in the team gymnastics competition, and were unlucky to not claim the silver medal after an appeal from the Japanese team meant the home nation were downgraded from second spot.

The result was completely unexpected – Britain’s men have not even qualified for the final since 1924 and just making the final itself was seen as a big achievement.

They shocked competition favourites such as the USA, Russia and Germany and took the bronze in controversial fashion, perhaps marking a change in fortune for Team GB.

A strong all round performance from Louis Smith, Sam Oldham Kristian Thomas, Max Whitlock and Dan Purvis  saw them battling with Ukraine for third place as they went in to their final apparatus, the floor.

Whitlock, Purvis and Thomas landed every move of their floor routines to secure Britain the bronze.

But a surprising twist of events saw Japan, who looked comfortable in second place, make a succession of errors on the pommel horse.

Japan moved down from second place to fourth, leaving Britain and Ukraine in the medals, but they questioned the points awarded to their final gymnast on the horse and made an official inquiry.

Their successful appeal put them back into their deserved silver medal spot as China comfortably won the gold.

But it was Britain’s medal that was the biggest talk of the day and the home nation will look to gain from the result which could spur on the rest of the team after a start which many have perceived as slow.

Cyclist Lizzie Armitstead won Britain’s first medal, a silver, in the women’s road race on day two, after favourite Mark Cavendish missed out on the men’s equivalent on Saturday.

Rebecca Addlington added the second medal on Sunday with a bronze in the 400m freestyle, the event she won four years ago in Beijing.

But it had been anticipated these medals would be just two of many by this stage in the Games for Britain, who had high hopes as they chase a demanding target set by UK Sport.

With a few medal hopes not living up to expectations thus far, many believe Team GB have not risen to the challenge, but the pressure of a home Olympic Games cannot be overstated.

It felt like Cavendish had won the Olympic road race before the Tour de France was even completed, whilst Tom Daley was expected to bring back a medal – no questions asked - in the diving, an event which can be swung with one tiny error.

Daley came fourth in the 10m synchronized diving as he partnered Pete Waterfield on Monday, but still has a chance in the individual event.

Elsewhere the sailors seem to be struggling for form in an event the home team was looking to dominate and a few medal prospects, especially in the swimming, have not made the most of their opportunities.

The triumphs of the home nation are vital to the success of the Olympics and these Games have the potential to be one of the greatest the world has ever seen so the nation will be hoping that the unexpected success in the men’s team gymnastics result will be the much-needed boost for the rest of Team GB.

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