• Tour of Britain

Wiggins will defend title, says Brailsford

Sir Bradley Wiggins will not travel to Spain © Getty Images

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Sir Bradley Wiggins will defend his Tour of Britain title rather than ride the Vuelta a Espana next month, according to Team Sky manager Sir Dave Brailsford.

Wiggins had said earlier in the year that he may ride in the Vuelta to prepare for the Road World Championships - which are to be held in Spain this year.

But speaking to BBC Sport, Brailsford confirmed Wiggins "will ride the Tour of Britain", which runs from September 7 to 14 and overlaps the final week of the Vuelta.

Wiggins intends to compete in the time-trial category at the Road World Championships, which take place in Ponferrada from September 21 to 28.

Brailsford, speaking to the BBC as Wiggins competed in the London-Surrey Classic on Sunday, outlined his plans for the rest of the 34-year-old's season.

"He's riding here today, and then he goes from here to an altitude camp," he said.

"He'll ride in a couple of one-day races, then he'll ride the Tour of Britain.

"We hope that will give him the right training preparations to go to the World Championships, and try to deliver in the individual time trial again, which he did so brilliantly last year. We hope he'll do the same again this year."

Wiggins finished well back of the field at the London-Surrey Classic as fellow Briton Adam Blythe held off another compatriot, Ben Swift, in a sprint finish in the race that started at Olympic Park and finished at the Mall.

"I've grown up with Ben, so it was nice that two friends crossed together at the end," Blythe said. "I'm just so happy that I've won. I couldn't be more thrilled."

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