Tour De France Winner: Bradley Wiggins's Victory Signals Change in Cycling

Bradley Wiggins's Tour de France victory made history, but it has also initiated change in a sport that has been plagued by accusations of doping against some of the sport's most recognizable.

Wiggins is the first British winner the event has ever had, according to usatoday.com.

While most of the spotlight may be focused on that achievement, there will also inevitably be mentions of the absence of competitors like Alberto Contador, who is serving a suspension, and Andy Schleck, who suffered an injury just before the event.

His victory signals a change in a sport that has been criticized so frequently for the rampant doping that once existed. Riders like Wiggins would otherwise rarely be considered among the favorites to win such an event, and his victory is a testament that he was able to do it cleanly.

After the UCI began increasing their efforts against doping, UCI President Pat McQuaid claimed that their hard stance against performance-enhancing drugs was showing success, and cheaters were being caught, according to the Associated Press.

With the first Tour de France after that statement, Wiggins, who heavily opposes doping, dons the yellow jersey in 2012 and becomes a symbol of change.

The sport will now become more "human," and as doping is stamped out, a truer, purer version of cycling will hopefully emerge.