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Wiggins felt 'undermined' by Froome leadership

Sir Bradley Wiggins returned to form in 2013 with silver in the World Championship time trial © AP

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Sir Bradley Wiggins has spoken of how he got "sick and tired" of the Team Sky leadership battle with Tour de France winner Chris Froome.

Wiggins, who won Le Tour a year prior to Froome's triumph, admitted his 2013 season had been a disappointment and felt he had "had enough" when Froome was named Team Sky leader for the 100th edition of cycling most prestigious race.

In May, Wiggins was forced to quit the Giro d'Italia through a combination of illness and injury, which later ruled him out of defending his Tour title.

His withdrawal capped a dark period for the Brit, a stark contrast to his triumphs of the previous year, while he revealed the internal battle with Froome had a negative effect on his mentality.

"I just didn't enjoy it [the season] at all," Wiggins told Sport. "There were loads of issues in the team.

"I was getting sick and tired of this leadership thing with Chris Froome. I'd had enough of it all, to be honest. And then [when Froome was named Team Sky leader for the Tour de France] it was like: 'right, someone else is going to lead this team.'

"So I probably just felt undermined, in a way. And I was like, well, they're backing someone else now. So, you know. That was that, really."

Since recovering from his injury, Wiggins has enjoyed a relatively successful return to the saddle. The 33-year-old won the Tour of Britain and also claimed silver to Tony Martin at the UCI World Championships in September, before suffering a washout at the Road World Championships a week later.

A return to form has fuelled the speculation on whether Wiggins will ride alongside Froome in the 101st Tour next summer - although, for now, he believes it is too soon to make that call.

"I think at this stage, it's too early," Wiggins said. "We have a get-together in December, and I know what I'm doing in terms of training for the next few months.

"So once I get there I'll sit with Dave [Brailsford, Team Sky general manager] and all the team and start talking about next year. At this stage, I think it will probably include the Tour de France - that's the obvious thing to go back to."

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