By Tom Degun

Bradley Wiggins_in_Copenhagen_Time_Trial_September_22_2011January 3 - Britain's triple Olympic champion Bradley Wiggins has revealed the road time-trial will be his "complete priority" at the London 2012 Olympic Games.


The 31-year-old Londoner claimed silver behind Germany's Tony Martin in the event at the World Championships in Copenhagen last September but arguably his best performance in Denmark saw him work superbly as part of the team that helped lead his compatriot Mark Cavendish to gold in the road race.

But despite their success together in Copenhagen, Wiggins may not complete the full 250 kilometre distance with Cavendish at London 2012 because the time-trial comes after the road race in what is a reverse of the schedule from Denmark.

Wiggins will take part in the road race on July 28 when Cavendish (pictured below right with Wiggins) could win Britain's first medal of London 2012 but he admitted that he has to think selfishly and that his thoughts are primarily on the 44-kilometre Hampton Court event against the clock on August 1.

Bradley Wiggins_with_Mark_Cavendish
"My complete priority to the time-trial," said Wiggins.

"That's unfortunate [with regard to the road race] but that's the way it is."

Wiggins admits that he will have a role to play in trying to get Cavendish to the line in first place but as Wiggins may not do the whole race, there will be additional emphasis on the three remaining riders in the five-man team.

"I will have a job to do the day of the road race," said Wiggins.

"The coaches will define the job that I do and it will be with the priority of the time-trial.

"Whether that involves the whole race, the first part of the race, who knows?

"That's all part of the strategy going forward."

Wiggins could also appear on the track at the Velodrome at the Olympics.

All three of his Olympic gold medals have actually come on the track after he won gold in the individual pursuit at both Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 as well as well as gold in the team pursuit in the Chinese capital alongside Ed Clancy, Paul Manning and Geraint Thomas (pictured below).

Bradley Wiggins_in_Team_Pursuit_Beijing_2008
Wiggins is a supersub for the event but is confident he can perform on the track if required.

"I'm doing the first track block in February but that's more to complement my road stuff, but it's also keeping my hand in the fire," he said.

"I'll be in the Olympic system and I'm available if they need me."

Prior to the Olympics Wiggins will be targeting victory in the Tour de France with the prestigious competition set to take place from June to July.

After crashing out of July's race while in a strong position, and finishing third in the Tour of Spain, Wiggins now has the belief he can win the Tour.

"I think I've become more than just a time-trialist now, I think I've become a climber," Wiggins said.

"The Tour of Spain was a great performance, third place, but it was far from my best."

The competition will see Wiggins and Cavendish compete alongside each other for Team Sky for the first time after the latter admitted that he had signed up to join the British team in October after his former team HTC Highroad said it was folding.

Wiggins will target the overall winner's yellow jersey while Cavendish will bid for stage wins in defence of the points classification's green jersey.

Cavendish, the newly-crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year, is currently training with his new team-mates in Mallorca and Wiggins said he has settled in perfectly.

"Cav's just Cav," said Wiggins.

"He is the best sprinter in the world and has an energy and passion for cycling that is infectious."

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