Wiggins looking to win Tour de France

It has been a long time in coming, but Bradley Wiggins says he is revved up to start what he believes is a credible bid to be crowned Britain's first Tour de France champion. A fourth place finisher in 2009, Wiggins will start the 99th edition as the favourite thanks to a stunning year which has seen him win four major stage races and secure third place on the Tour of Spain. For Team Sky's leader, it's a far cry from five years ago when he and his Cofidis team were unceremoniously escorted off the race by police, following their voluntary withdrawal after Cristian Moreni's positive doping test. "I haven't had this much attention since we got chucked off the Tour in Pau in 2007 because someone tested positive," Wiggins said Friday, a day before a 6.4 km prologue starts the three-week epic. "It's nice to be in this position, for all the right reasons." Now the only bona fide challenger to Australia's reigning champion Cadel Evans (BMC), the 32-year-old Londoner still can't quite believe he could be about to emulate his childhood heroes. "It's the stuff of dreams really for me. As a child, being a big fan of the sport, I never imagined that one day I'd be a favourite for the Tour de France. "Kids from Kilburn don't become favourites for the Tour, you either become a postman, a milkman or you're working at (bookmakers) Ladbrokes. "To be in this position now and emulating some of my heroes, like Miguel Indurain... it's amazing. "In England it's (all about) football and every kid's dream is to lift the FA Cup at Wembley. This is my Wembley. That is what it means to me." Primarily known, prior to 2009, for the track cycling exploits that have made him a three-time Olympic champion, Wiggins has since morphed into one of the best stage racers of his generation. This year's race might be missing Spain's Alberto Contador, currently banned for doping, as well as injured Luxembourger Andy Schleck, but given his performances this past year Wiggins would still be a strong contender even if they were here. Having flopped with a 23rd place overall in 2010 on his debut with Sky, he crashed out of the race in 2011 following a crash on stage seven which left him with a broken collarbone. He rebounded in style to finish third in the Tour of Spain, helped Mark Cavendish win the world road race title and took time trial silver at the same championships. Crucially, Wiggins has claimed three major stage races since a breakthrough victory at the Criterium du Dauphine in June 2011 -- Paris-Nice, the Tour of Romandie and a successful defence of his Dauphine title earlier this month. Those experiences, he says, have given him the belief that he has what it takes to make Tour de France history for Britain. "Leading a race now isn't as emotional a toll on me as it was last year in the Dauphine," he said. "You can't ride around Lancashire with a yellow jersey on and get that same experience as doing it in a race." He added: "I'm in this position because I've won this year, and that's a reassuring position to be in. "I'm sure Cadel's not looking at me and I'm not looking at him. He's the winner last year so for me he's still the favourite, and it's for me to try and take it from him. "But I would never underestimate everyone in the Tour de France." After weeks and months of speculation, Wiggins says he can't wait to get the wheels in motion. Only this time, like in 2009 when he was pipped to a podium place by Lance Armstrong, he fully intends to finish. "The next three weeks are what's going to decide this Tour, and not what you say," said Wiggins, who says the scientific data concerning his form couldn't be any more promising. "I can't account for where anyone else is at. I'm better than I've ever been. And if that makes me one of the favourites, then fantastic. "Paris is a long way off, we saw that last year. I was in hospital after seven days. Let's just hope I can stay upright this year and finish the job."