Having won the Paris-Nice and the Tour de Romandie this season, Bradley Wiggins (Sky) is seen as one of the principal contenders for Tour de France victory, and he hopes to win “in a positive way”. In recent years, there has been much talk about doping and it seems like the winner of the race is always accused of doping.

Okay, there hasn't been much such talk about defending champion Cadel Evans (BMC), but Wiggins would like to be yet another credible Tour winners in modern time.

“It would be nice to be part of it in a positive way, because there aren’t a lot of Tour winners who you can believe in,” Wiggins told L’Équipe. “For the first time last year, you had a Tour winner who everyone could believe in [Evans]. He is a fantastic ambassador for the sport, he works hard, he didn’t win by showing off, but with great determination. So to be able to follow on from somebody like him would be nice, rather than doing it after somebody had a positive test hanging over his head for a year or two.”

Wiggins has become quite a different rider in recent years. He is no longer a track and time trial specialist but a grand tour podium finisher. Before 2009, he has never finished higher than 123rd, but at the 2009 Tour de France, he took fourth place.

The Briton has lost significant weight, which made him much better when it came to stage races. Heavy riders don't win such races. But a change like that doesn't mean he has taken doping.

“There probably are [suspicions] but there weren’t for Cadel. For a lot of people, there was no doubt,” he said. “I don’t even have to respond to that question, I don’t have anything to prove. I’ve never been a shit rider.”

“Nobody has ever been the Olympic individual or team pursuit champion and the winner of the Tour. That’s my challenge in a way,” Wiggins said.