Bradley Wiggins backs Chris Froome's Tour de France and Olympic bid

Sir Bradley Wiggins says that Chris Froome could follow in his footsteps and win the Tour de France and Olympic gold

Bradley Wiggins before the 2016 Dubai Tour

(Image credit: Watson)

Bradley Wiggins blesses Chris Froome's bid to conquer the cycling world this summer in the Tour de France and the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games – given he is in condition, of course.

Sky's Froome aims to take his third Tour title this July 2 to 24 and following that, travel to Brazil to win the road race and time trial gold two weeks later for Great Britain. Minus the road race gold medal in London, Wiggins did the same in 2012.

"I think it's possible because of how close it is," Wiggins told the press at the Dubai Tour where he is racing this week with Team Wiggins.

>>> Bradley Wiggins thinks Mark Cavendish may struggle combining Tour and Olympic ambitions

"I think if he wins the Tour again, and then has the condition, then I don't see any reason why not. I said to everyone that was the big question point in London, was whether we could do that, with Tour de France tiredness or whatever."

Bradley Wiggins wins the Mens Olympic Time Trial

Chris Froome (right) took bronze in the 2012 Olympic Games time trial behind Bradley Wiggins
(Image credit: Watson)

Wiggins became the first Brit to win the Tour de France in 2012 when Sky team-mate Froome placed second. He flew the short 500km to London to compete in the Olympics six days afterwards. He helped Mark Cavendish lead the road team and then won the gold medal in the time trial four days later. Froome took the bronze medal.

Froome will have to overcome the mega-12-hour journey and three hours of jetlag. However, he has an extra week to adjust with the climb-heavy road race on August 6. The time trial falls four days later, August 10.

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"But if you finish [the Tour] well then there's every chance that you can do well at the Olympics afterwards," Wiggins added. "The winner of the Olympics will come from the Tour de France. I think it's doable."

Besides Froome, Tour favourites Colombian Nairo Quintana (Movistar Team), Spaniard Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) and Italian Fabio Aru (Astana) are aiming for the Rio road race. In November, Froome previewed the courses around the capital city to be prepared for this summer's goal.

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Gregor Brown

Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.