The geographic situation across the Channel is sensitive, as evidenced by the Brexit process: Great Britain consists of England, Scotland and Wales. Together with Northern Ireland and the smaller British Isles, they form the United Kingdom. Ireland stands alone and is proud of it.
Witness the many fierce reactions to Wiggins’ TV statement after stage 10. The 40-year-old Englishman divided the country in two, “Bennett gate” was born. The question in Ireland was, was it a joke or another attempt to claim an Irish sporting success as a British?
The anger in some reached unprecedented heights, the “shameless” Wiggins got the wind from the front. The somewhat eccentric Tour winner of 2012 did not understand anything, was not amused and made that very clear in an Instagram Story. “Of course it was a joke, Jesus Christ, act normal. Of course Bennett is Irish. He’s proud of it and so am I. He’s not British.”
“I don’t believe it. Sorry if you felt offended. But is that how journalism works today. Are you making a headline of that? What are we doing?”
Wiggins, however, could not resist: “Bennett is 100 percent Irish. Or maybe not, he was born in Belgium, just like me. So let’s claim him as a Belgian”, Wiggins joked. “Grow up. I can’t believe this has been haunting me all day now, no one better to do.”
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