However, the years following his retirement proved dramatically different. A combination of profound childhood trauma, the absence of cycling's rigid structure, poor financial oversight and substance dependency triggered a catastrophic decline, leaving him homeless, bankrupt, divorced and struggling with cocaine addiction.

Just a few years after retirement, Wiggins' business ventures, which had already been faltering, collapsed completely. He had lost his £13million fortune and owed creditors in excess of £2m by late 2024.

This resulted in him declaring bankruptcy in June 2024, leaving him without a home and relying on the hospitality of friends and relatives.

Wiggins' lawyer Alan Sellers provided a stark assessment at the time, revealing to the Daily Mail: "In reality, Brad is sofa-surfing. He stays with friends and family. I don't know where he stayed last night, I don't know where he will stay tonight or tomorrow night.

"He doesn't have an address. It is a total mess. He has lost absolutely everything. His family home, his home in Majorca, his savings and investments. He doesn't have a penny. It's a very sad state of affairs."

"I was a functioning addict. People wouldn't realise. Alcohol was never my thing, because my dad was an alcoholic, so I had to find something else.

"My proclivity to addiction was easing the pain that I lived with. They [his family] wouldn't hear from me for days on end. I can talk about these things candidly now. There was an element of me living a lie in not talking about it.

"I was not the person I wanted to be. I realised I was hurting a lot of people around me. There's no middle ground for me. I can't just have a glass of wine. If I have a glass of wine, then I'm buying drugs."

Wiggins also disclosed his separation from his wife, Catherine, on social media in 2020. The couple had been together since 2002, welcoming son Ben and daughter Isabella during their relationship.

However, due to his substance abuse issues, Wiggins moved out of the family home in 2019. Their divorce was official in January 2024.

Confirming their separation, Wiggins posted on social media: "It is with deep sadness my wife Cath and I have decided to separate. Our two children remain our priority, and we ask for privacy at this time. Brad and Cath."

Wiggins went on to acknowledge the devastating impact his difficulties had on his ex-wife.

"Cath is as big a casualty of the past 12 years as anyone. She paid the ultimate price for being my wife," he wrote.

In 2022, the 46-year-old also revealed that he had been groomed by a coach during his childhood. Speaking to Men's Health UK, he said: "I was groomed by a coach when I was younger - I was about 13 - and I never fully accepted that."

When questioned whether he had been "groomed sexually" by the coach, he responded: "Yes. It all impacted me as an adult... I buried it."

Wiggins was met with widespread support following his decision to share such a harrowing experience. Following this devastating chapter, Wiggins, who had inspired countless budding cyclists just years earlier, was forced to build his life back from scratch.

EXPRESS SPORT ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page

He embarked on his journey to overcome addiction after declaring bankruptcy in 2024, when his children were actively preparing to admit him to a rehabilitation facility amid their profound worries.

After Wiggins dedicated himself to sobriety, former cyclist Lance Armstrong intervened and agreed to fund the entire cost of his treatment and rehabilitation. Wiggins entered a trauma rehabilitation centre in Utah in November 2025 and re-emerged publicly in early 2026.

"I still speak to him and see [Armstrong]," Wiggins said at the time. "I'm off to America on Friday. He's paid for me to go and see a top trauma counselling clinic in Utah, so I'm looking forward to that."

The two cycling legends have kept in contact since, with a revitalised Wiggins travelling to America to feature as a guest on Armstrong's various podcasts earlier this year.

Wiggins also published his second autobiography, The Chain, towards the end of last year. It has proved enormously successful, earning a shortlist nomination for autobiography of the year at the 2026 Sports Books Awards.

His honest, unflinching bravery in discussing profound personal matters struck a chord with readers and completed his redemption story. This year, he has focused on personal openness and public speaking engagements, including question-and-answer sessions about his life, both before and after rebuilding himself.

He launched the esteemed Off the Shelf Festival 2026 at Sheffield's Lyceum Theatre to widespread praise and is currently undertaking a much-anticipated nationwide book tour.

Wiggins' 21-year-old son Ben has recently emulated his father by securing his maiden professional WorldTour deal with the renowned Australian outfit Team Jayco AlUla ahead of the 2027 season.

Ben enjoyed a triumphant 2026 campaign, claiming the Under-23 national time trial championship and achieving a top-10 placement at the Tour of Britain.

While the cycling icon observes from afar, allowing his son to carve out his own journey, he remains a devoted and encouraging father, maintaining his sobriety, establishing a new career, and effectively transforming his life.