Wiggins: I can win the Tour de France

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The 29-year-old surpassed all expectations by coming fourth during the gruelling three-week event, convincing him it is time to eschew the track which has produced three Olympic gold medals. But his absence will last only as long as London 2012 when the Olympic Games comes to his home town.

"A lot has changed now and the obvious path for me is to try and win the Tour de France within the next three years," he said.

"It's the biggest bike race in the world and finishing fourth has opened up a whole new set of doors for me. What a challenge winning it is and I want a go at it.

"There will be no track racing for the next two years, it will just be full on for the tour. In 2012 I'll try and do both, which would be an even greater achievement.

"I'd like to win Olympic gold and then win the Tour in the same year. I believe it's possible and can be done."

Wiggins was encouraged by his mental toughness throughout the Tour, an area he feared could undermine his pre-race ambition of finishing inside the top 20.

Enthused by the unexpected resilience he displayed until the end, his confidence is now soaring.

"Usually I find the mental side of it consuming, it really takes it out of you," he said.

"I always thought that I might collapse mentally after two weeks because I wouldn't be able to concentrate or would suffer lapses in concentration through fatigue, losing contact on a climb. But mentally I held it together very well and I feel like I've taken it to another level now.