Britain's surprise Tour de France star Bradley Wiggins is looking to end his season in style with a medal at the Road Cycling World Championships

Wiggins, who finished fourth in Paris to equal the best ever performance by a Briton, competes in tomorrow's time trial, where he is up against favourite and Olympic champion Fabian Cancellara.

The 29-year-old Londoner said: “The Tour has opened my eyes and I know I can go a lot better. Nobody in their right mind would mouth off saying they are going to beat Fabian Cancellara. He is one of the greats and a rider I admire. But I'm going to give it a good shot. I've kept going since the Tour with this one big final race in mind. I want to sign off with a medal.”

Team leader David Millar feels this is the strongest British squad to take part in the event. He, too, is in great form after winning a stage in the Veulta a Espana last week, and is hoping to go out with a bang in his last major race before his wedding to fiancee Nicole next month.

“I'd like to go out and win but they'll be a lot of other guys thinking the same thing,” said Millar.

“I feel in great shape and this is probably the strongest team we've ever sent to the worlds.”
Millar, however, is unlikely to be among the favourites for Sunday's elite road race, with Vuelta winner Alejandro Valverde, Italian rider Damiano Cunego, runner-up at the championships a year ago, and Tour de France runner-up Andy Schleck leading the field.

Mark Cavendish looks unlikely to add to his 51 road-race wins even if he passes a late fitness test.

The 24-year-old has been struggling with a lung infection and even if fit, the hilly 162-mile course won't favour the sprint specialist.

British women's hopes rest on Emma Pooley, who has had the best season of her career, and defending world road race champion Nicole Cooke.