Wiggins backed to be in yellow from day one

Published on 29/06/2012 02:30

Bradley Wiggins is capable of beginning the Tour de France in the leader’s yellow jersey and ending it victorious, according to Chris Boardman.

Boardman is one of the few Britons to have worn the fabled maillot jaune after prologue successes in 1994, 1997 and 1998, and is backing Team Sky’s Wiggins to follow him and become the fifth Brit to do so, possibly even on Saturday in Belgium – where he was born. The 32-year-old, who was born in Ghent, crashed out of last year’s race with a broken collarbone but starts in Liege as favourite to be the first British winner.

Boardman said: “I wouldn’t be surprised, the way he’s been building up, if he did take the prologue. It would be about time. I think you just take it [the yellow jersey] when you can get it.”

Tomorrow’s opening 6.4-kilometre time-trial in Liege is small in the context of the 3,497km route to Paris but the time margins could be crucial as Wiggins seeks to triumph ahead of defending champion Cadel Evans (BMC Racing).

Wiggins has enjoyed an unprecedented series of results this season with wins in the Paris-Nice, Tour de Romandie and Criterium du Dauphine stage races and a Tour with more than 100km of time-trials favours his ability against the clock.

The three-times Olympic champion is also going into the Tour with a team built to help him succeed.

Boardman, who won Olympic gold in 1992 before turning to the road, added: “He’s far surpassed everything I did. He just needs to keep doing what he’s been doing. The last two years he’s been phenomenal.

“The Tour is a special thing. Would you rather win an Olympic title, world title or the Tour de France? The Tour de France. It’s the hardest fought thing.

“You don’t even have to say what event it is and people even outside the sport know what you’re talking about and what event you’re talking about.”