Wiggins’ challenge faded as the Giro d’Italia wore on – with the Team Sky leader insisting his focus was on building form for the Tour de France instead.

Speaking before the 2010 Tour, the then 30-year-old was in a bullish mood but his dream Dutch start to the Giro was not repeated as the Tour rolled out of Rotterdam.

Wiggins chose to start early in a bid to beat the forecast rain but the weather Gods ruled against him and poor conditions contributed to a 77th place finish in the prologue, before Wiggins’ form deserted him for much of the rest of the Tour.

Wiggins himself admitted his form had been mediocre as a top-20 place proved to be out of reach, eventually finishing 23rd overall, with Thomas Lofkvist instead finishing best of the Team Sky riders in 16th.