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London 2012 won't be the end for evergreen Wiggins

Bradley Wiggins and Team Sky team-mates Alex Dowsett and Ian Stannard are expecting a busy year in 2012 © Gatorade

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Despite the gruelling demands of the Tour de France, Bradley Wiggins believes his mental strength will be the difference between glory and failure as he chases his place in the history books next year.

In what could be a pivotal summer, Wiggins will bid to become the first Briton to win the Tour de France before heading to London in pursuit of Olympic gold.

Wiggins, who crashed out of this year's Tour after breaking his collarbone, had previously claimed he would put his dream of winning the prestigious maillot jaune ahead of Olympic glory, but he now believes he is capable of completing a remarkable double.

He is yet to decide whether to concentrate on the road in London, where the time trial would represent his best chance of a medal, or whether to return to the track to defend his individual pursuit crown.

The Tour finishes on July 22, just five days before the opening ceremony in London, with the men's road race the following day. The time trial takes place on August 1, while events in the velodrome kick off on August 2.

Despite the physical ordeal that faces him in 2012, Wiggins believes a tight schedule works in his favour, but admits he will have to prepare himself for the psychological challenge.

"It's hard to describe what we put ourselves through physically," Wiggins told ESPN. "I have always described in layman's terms like being held underwater and not being allowed to come up for air. Imagine that for the last hour of a mountain climb on the Tour and you get close to knowing how painful it can be.

"London 2012 comes so quickly after the Tour de France it isn't really a case of having to peak twice in one season so in terms of form it won't be a problem. I think mentally it will be hard, being able to pick yourself up again but I think the stage I am at in my career I think I am in a position to be able to deal with that situation when it arises."

But actions speak louder than words, and Wiggins made his point in Copenhagen in September. Just ten days after finishing third in the Vuelta a Espana - where he was only the third British rider to finish on a podium in a Grand Tour event - Wiggins won time trial silver at the World Road Cycling Championships in Denmark.

He was back on the bike four days later, when he produced a selfless ride to help steer Mark Cavendish to the rainbow jersey in the road race.

Having passed the dress rehearsal with flying colours, Wiggins, speaking at the launch of the Gatorade G Series Pro range, believes he has learnt from his past mistakes and hopes his experience will prove key in his pursuit of double glory.

"Coming back from success is harder than bouncing back from disappointment," Wiggins explained. "I have had experience of both and I believe I am a better athlete as a result - to not know what it feels like to lose cannot be that healthy.

"In many ways my biggest regret turned out to be the making of me as an athlete. I believe everything happens for a reason and it helped me become so successful.

"What I most regret is not being like I am now earlier in my career. I was successful on the track but I lost a lot of years as well. After I won Olympic gold in Athens the next three years were a write-off. I was young and I went off the rails. Having said that, if I could have been like I am now I probably wouldn't still be cycling."

While many of the senior members of Team GB are eying a final swansong in London, Wiggins, who will be 32 when he competes in his fourth Olympics next summer, has no intention of calling it a day, and even suggested he could be going for gold at the age of 40.

"I've never really thought that far ahead," Wiggins said. "I will keep cycling until I stop. When I stop enjoying what I do that will be the time to stop. I've just had five weeks off and I am eager to get back training again. Will I still be racing in five years time? I don't know. If I'm still enjoying it I'll be at the 2020 Olympics...we'll see."

Bradley Wiggins was speaking at the launch of the Gatorade G Series Pro range, a new series of sports performance products that fuel athletes before, during and after workout, practice or competition. Available to buy in stores from November 20, follow @GatoradeUK for more information.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.