Bradley Wiggins (Sky) in yellow (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Wiggins (Sky) monitors the front of the bunch of stage 13 of the Tour de France (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Bradley Wiggins (Sky) in yellow on stage eight of the Tour de France (Image credit: Sirotti)
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Bradley Wiggins (Sky) resplendent in yellow (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Bradley Wiggins (Sky) is ready to resume defense of his yellow jersey following the first rest day. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Bradley Wiggins follows green jersey holder Peter Sagan (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Bradley Wiggins (Sky) (Image credit: AFP)
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Bradley Wiggins has some mic time (Image credit: Elmar Krings)
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Bradley Wiggins (Sky) rolls down the start ramp to begin his prologue time trial. (Image credit: Sirotti)
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Bradley Wiggins (Sky) was well-placed all day. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Bradley Wiggins (Sky) in full flight. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Bradley Wiggins and his Sky team. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Tour favorite Bradley Wiggins (Sky) (Image credit: Sirotti)
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Bradley Wiggins (Sky) at the start (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Chris Froome leads Bradley Wiggins in the first mountain finish of the Tour de France (Image credit: AFP Photo)
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Bradley Wiggins in the maillot jaune of the 2012 Tour de France (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Bradley Wiggins hugs teammate Chris Froome after their successful stage 7 in the Tour de France (Image credit: AFP Photo)
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Bradley Wiggins (Sky) cuts a narrow profile while on his time trial bike. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Tour de France leader Bradley Wiggins (Sky) (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Bradley Wiggins looks back while crossing the finish line in Bellegarde-sur-Valserine in a gesture that GC rival Vincenzo Nibali felt was directed at him as an insult. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Bradley Wiggins (Sky) at the finish line of stage 10 in Bellegarde-sur-Valserine. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Bradley Wiggins (Sky) takes a look at where his GC rivals are at the finish line in Bellegarde-sur-Valserine. (Image credit: Sirotti)
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Bradley Wiggins (Sky) crosses the finish line of stage 10. (Image credit: Sirotti)
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Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Lotto Belisol) finished just ahead of Vincenzo Nibali and Bradley Wiggins (Image credit: Sirotti)
Bradley Wiggins (Sky) and Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas - Cannondale) congratulate each other. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Wiggins (Team Sky) shows his teammates the way (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Bradley Wiggins (Sky) was calm on stage 14 (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Wiggins, without having finished on the podium of the Tour in the past was already being touted as the "first British Tour winner" in the lead up to the start in Liège. The ‘bookies’ were offering shorter odds than what Lance Armstrong used to see during his seven-year reign such was his favoured status. Wiggins however, is also confident in his chances.
Wiggins’ Sky team is bolstered by three super domestiques who could demand a leader’s role if they were at any other race - or team. This should play into the Briton’s favour for the most part but with such a dominant team, Wiggins may be forced into a defensive role as the other general classification contenders seek to unhinge his super squad from their stable position.
If Wiggins can stay safe throughout the stressful opening week and make it into the first mountain stages unscathed he should be in a promising position. He showed at last year’s Vuelta a Espana that he has what it takes to lead his team, although he did finish behind his team mate Chris Froome. Fortunately for Wiggins, he has the full backing of his squad and with the exception of Mark Cavendish, the team is at his disposal.
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