Wiggins: This is the best shape I've been in for the Tour

Bradley Wiggins, Criterium du Dauphine 2012, stage four ITT

Bradley Wiggins pocketed another stage race win, his third of the season, today in the Critérium du Dauphiné. He left the race, heading for the team's hotel and a few days of Tour de France recon, with the leader's yellow jersey in his back pocket.

Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) tried to take back the jersey on a few occasions, but fell short. The two will face off again in the Tour de France, starting in just three weeks.

"I had a good run at it now, this is probably the best shape I've been in for the Tour. My time trialling's improve, my climbing and my team is strong. I'm ready to go now," Wiggins said in a press conference.

"I keep saying it, but Cadel is an incredible athlete and you can guarantee he will be there at the Tour, trying to win it for the second time."

Sky's captain completed his mission, winning the race for a second year running and focusing on the Tour. He stays in Châtel in Haute Savoie tonight, travels tomorrow by car to preview several of the Tour finishes and rides the first TT in Besançon on Tuesday.

"I'll then head home for a few days, then Majorca for a week. It will be a lot warmer than it is in Manchester!" Wiggins explained. "I'll stay there, miss the nationals because I felt it was too much last year. Then straight to Liège. The week is about freshening up and putting the final touches on the prologue work so that we are ready for Liege."

Sky is due to select a long list of 14 riders for the Tour on Wednesday. It will whittle the list down to nine for the Tour de France. Mick Rogers placed second in the Dauphiné, Chris Froome fourth and Richie Porte ninth. They are expected to form the heart of Wiggins' mountain team, but Mark Cavendish will also need his riders.

Wiggins stayed out of the team politics.

"The team will pick who they want, they will go with a strategy they see fit," he said. "At this moment in time, I couldn't tell you either way, it'd just be speculating."

Critérium du Dauphiné 2012: Latest news

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Bruyneel disappointed with RadioShack's lack of results

Wiggins on Dauphiné: 'I've come here to race'

Wiggins happy with second in Dauphiné prologue

Critérium du Dauphiné 2012: The Big Preview - includes team list, TV guide, recent winners and more

Wiggins back to defend Critérium du Dauphiné title

Critérium du Dauphiné 2012: Stage reports

Stage seven: Wiggins wins overall, Moreno takes final stage

Stage six: Quintana wins but Sky and Wiggins in complete control

Stage five: Wiggins maintains lead as Vichot wins stage

Stage four: Wiggins blitzes time trial

Stage three: Boasson Hagen blasts to stage win

Stage two: Moreno wins second stage in Dauphiné hill-top sprint

Stage one: Evans wins as Wiggins takes lead

Prologue: Wiggins second behind Durbridge

Critérium du Dauphiné 2012: Photo galleries

Stage six photo gallery

Stage five photo gallery

Stage four photo gallery

Stage three photo gallery

Stage two photo gallery

Stage one photo gallery

Prologue photo gallery

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