Wiggins hopes to become first Briton to win Tour

All the stars are aligned as Bradley Wiggins gears up to become the first Briton to win the Tour de France, but he knows too well how cruel road cycling can be to even think past Saturday’s prologue.

The suspended Alberto Contador will miss the race, fate took care of injured Andy Schleck’s ambitions, the route is tailor-made for ‘rouleurs’ and Team Sky rider Wiggins has had the best possible preparation.

Road cycling, however, is an unpredictable affair and this year’s Tour, which starts with a 6.4-kilometre prologue in Liege, Belgium, will be no exception. Team Sky promised when they started competition two and a half years ago that they world put a Briton in yellow on the Champs Elysees within five years.

This year the team have even issued an official soundtrack for the Tour, a turbo-charged, steely electronic song called ‘Go Far’ by The Elite.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time and I’ll do everything I can to win the Tour de France,” Wiggins said.

However, all the hype surrounding the team counted for nothing last year as Wiggins crashed out early in the race.

Another factor in the June 30-July 22 race will be Contador’s absence after the Spaniard was banned for failing a dope test during the 2010 race.

Last year’s runner-up, Luxembourg’s Andy Schleck, has pulled out with a broken bone in his pelvis after a terrible season, leaving the race open for a duel between Wiggins and defending champion Cadel Evans, who has been struggling for form this year.

“There is a little pressure from not having results but it’s also a motivation. I have a good tam around me and my body is capable of doing it,” the Australian told Reuters.

Wiggins, on the other hand, is coming into the Tour having won the Paris-Nice and Criterium du Dauphine stage races.  The Belgium-born rider has prepared in Tenerife, Spain, to improve in the climbs and is expected to follow the pace in some demanding ascents on the route.