Bradley Wiggins has tipped his former teammate Chris Froome (Team Sky) to back up Tour de France glory with Olympic Games success in Rio de Janeiro.
Wiggins won the Tour de France in 2012 and followed that up with a gold medal in the time trial less than two weeks later at the London Olympics. Froome finished second that year in the Tour and claimed bronze behind Wiggins in the time trial but heads to Rio with a third Tour title under his belt. He will compete in both the hilly road race and the time trial with ambitions of medalling in at least one of the events. He starts the time trial as arguably the favourite after Tom Dumoulin's chances of competing became uncertain after crashing out of the Tour de France with an injured wrist.
Wiggins, who is looking for a final Olympic gold medal on the track as part of Great Britain's team pursuit squad, has tipped Froome for Olympic success but pointed out that his fellow countryman may have a tougher job than he himself had four years ago.
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"I think it's probably harder for him this time. He has to travel to a completely different Continent and we came back home and that is probably more challenging for Chris."
Wiggins has previously described his Tour-Olympic combo as one extended event, stating that his performances at the Tour in 2012 gave him a clear indication that if he kept his focus then a win in London would be secured. For Froome, the task looks somewhat tougher due to the travel and the slightly extended time period between the Tour finish and the Rio road race on August 6 followed by the time trial on August 10.
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