• Tour de France

Wiggins: Froome would be a rival

Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome are first and second in the Tour de France general classification © PA Photos

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Bradley Wiggins admits Chris Froome would be his biggest threat at the Tour de France if his Team Sky colleague rode for a different team.

Wiggins remains in pole position after Stage 15 as he bids to become the first British winner of the prestigious race. He leads team-mate Froome by two minutes and five seconds in the general classification, but Froome has shown he is a better climber.

But when asked about the challenge of Froome, Wiggins replied: "We're first and second on GC. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work that out," he said. "He's my team-mate. We'll keep it like that."

Froome was quoted on Sunday as saying he was frustrated at having to play second fiddle to Wiggins and hopes his loyalty will be repaid during next year's Tour, which is expected to be more mountainous.

Froome has since reiterated his commitment to the team and insists the team remain united. "There were a lot of things taken out of context there," Froome said. "There's no bad blood in the team. We're still here with the same goal."

Wiggins leads third-placed Vincenzo Nibali by two minutes and 23 seconds with defending champion Cadel Evans nearly a minute further back. But with two tough days in the Pyrenees and a time-trial on Saturday to come, Wiggins knows there is plenty of hard work ahead.

"There are gaps in the GC of course and yes we are in a great position but even the time-trial on Saturday could see gaps," he said. "The last time-trial of the Tour is not the same as the one in the first week. You're tired and it's not easy to put in the same amount of effort as in the first week."

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