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Sir Bradley Wiggins In 'Best Shape Ever' At Tour Of Britain (PICTURES)

Wiggins In His 'Best Shape Ever'
The Huffington Post UK/PA

Sir Bradley Wiggins claims he is in the "best shape ever" as he begins stage four of the Tour of Britain with a handsome lead in the general classification.

Team Sky leader Wiggins was at his powered to victory in Tuesday's time-trial and was alone in breaking the 20-minute barrier around a rain-lashed 16km course in Knowsley.

His mark of 19 minutes 54.20 seconds was 36secs better than runner-up and team-mate Ian Stannard, who lies second overall.

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Wiggins claims he is in the "best shape ever"

Olympic champion Wiggins is now overwhelming favourite to retain the gold jersey and win the competition over the next five days of racing, going into the fourth stage from Stoke to Llanberis 37 seconds in front of Stannard and 10 more ahead of IAM Cycling's Martin Elmiger.

But while things are looking good now, 33-year-old Wiggins revealed he was ready to take plenty of risks in unforgiving weather in order to achieve his aim.

"The conditions weren't ideal for me, but I thought I'd rather end up in hospital today than be beaten, so it was 100 per cent commitment," he said.

Wiggins at Tour of Britain
Tour Of Britain - Stage Three(01 of28)
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KNOWSLEY, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 17: Sir Bradley Wiggins of Great Britain and SKY Procycling in action on his way to winning stage three of the Tour of Britain, a 16km individual time trial in Knowsley Safari Park, on September 17, 2013 in Knowsley, England. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Tour Of Britain - Stage Three(02 of28)
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KNOWSLEY, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 17: Sir Bradley Wiggins of Great Britain and SKY Procycling waves after winning stage three of the Tour of Britain, a 16km individual time trial in Knowsley Safari Park, on September 17, 2013 in Knowsley, England. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Tour Of Britain - Stage Three(03 of28)
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KNOWSLEY, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 17: Sir Bradley Wiggins of Great Britain and SKY Procycling in action on his way to winning stage three of the Tour of Britain, a 16km individual time trial in Knowsley Safari Park, on September 17, 2013 in Knowsley, England. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Tour Of Britain - Stage Three(04 of28)
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KNOWSLEY, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 17: Sir Bradley Wiggins of Great Britain and SKY Procycling celebrates taking the race leaders gold jersey after winning stage three of the Tour of Britain, a 16km individual time trial in Knowsley Safari Park, on September 17, 2013 in Knowsley, England. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Tour Of Britain - Stage Three(05 of28)
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KNOWSLEY, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 17: Sir Bradley Wiggins of Great Britain and SKY Procycling in action on his way to winning stage three of the Tour of Britain, a 16km individual time trial in Knowsley Safari Park, on September 17, 2013 in Knowsley, England. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Tour Of Britain - Stage Three(06 of28)
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KNOWSLEY, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 17: Sir Bradley Wiggins of Great Britain and SKY Procycling celebrates taking the race leaders gold jersey after winning stage three of the Tour of Britain, a 16km individual time trial in Knowsley Safari Park, on September 17, 2013 in Knowsley, England. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Tour Of Britain - Stage Three(07 of28)
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KNOWSLEY, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 17: Sir Bradley Wiggins of Great Britain and SKY Procycling cools down after winning stage three of the Tour of Britain, a 16km individual time trial in Knowsley Safari Park, on September 17, 2013 in Knowsley, England. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Tour Of Britain - Stage Three(08 of28)
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KNOWSLEY, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 17: Sir Bradley Wiggins of Great Britain and SKY Procycling cools down after winning stage three of the Tour of Britain, a 16km individual time trial in Knowsley Safari Park, on September 17, 2013 in Knowsley, England. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Tour De Pologne - Stage One(09 of28)
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MADONNA, ITALY - JULY 27: Bradley Wiggins of Sky teams atteds prior the start stage one the 2013 Tour de Pologne on July 27, 2013 in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy. (Photo by Dino Panato/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Tour De Pologne - Stage One(10 of28)
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MADONNA, ITALY - JULY 27: Bradley Wiggins of Sky teams atteds prior the start stage one the 2013 Tour de Pologne on July 27, 2013 in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy. (Photo by Dino Panato/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Tour De Pologne - Stage One(11 of28)
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MADONNA, ITALY - JULY 27: Bradley Wiggins of Sky teams atteds prior the start stage one the 2013 Tour de Pologne on July 27, 2013 in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy. (Photo by Dino Panato/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Tour De Pologne - Stage One(12 of28)
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MADONNA, ITALY - JULY 27: Bradley Wiggins of Sky teams atteds prior the start stage one the 2013 Tour de Pologne on July 27, 2013 in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy. (Photo by Dino Panato/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Tour De Pologne - Stage One(13 of28)
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MADONNA, ITALY - JULY 27: Bradley Wiggins of Sky teams atteds prior the start stage one the 2013 Tour de Pologne on July 27, 2013 in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy. (Photo by Dino Panato/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Cycling - 2013 Tour of Britain - Stage Three - Knowsley(14 of28)
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Sir Bradley Wiggins after crossing the line to winning the third stage, the Individual Time Trial in the 2013 Tour of Britain in Knowsley. (credit:PA)
Cycling - 2013 Tour of Britain - Stage Three - Knowsley(15 of28)
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Sir Bradley Wiggins on his way to winning the third stage, the Individual Time Trial in the 2013 Tour of Britain in Knowsley. (credit:PA)
Cycling - 2013 Tour of Britain - Stage Three - Knowsley(16 of28)
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Sir Bradley Wiggins on his way to winning the third stage, the Individual Time Trial in the 2013 Tour of Britain in Knowsley. (credit:PA)
Cycling - 2013 Tour of Britain - Stage Three - Knowsley(17 of28)
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Sir Bradley Wiggins after crossing the line to winning the third stage, the Individual Time Trial in the 2013 Tour of Britain in Knowsley. (credit:PA)
Cycling - 2013 Tour of Britain - Stage Three - Knowsley(18 of28)
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Sir Bradley Wiggins on his way to winning the third stage, the Individual Time Trial in the 2013 Tour of Britain in Knowsley. (credit:PA)
Cycling - 2013 Tour of Britain - Stage Three - Knowsley(19 of28)
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Sir Bradley Wiggins after crossing the line to winning the third stage, the Individual Time Trial in the 2013 Tour of Britain in Knowsley. (credit:PA)
Cycling - 2013 Tour of Britain - Stage Three - Knowsley(20 of28)
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Sir Bradley Wiggins on his way to winning the third stage, the Individual Time Trial in the 2013 Tour of Britain in Knowsley. (credit:PA)
Cycling - 2013 Tour of Britain - Stage Three - Knowsley(21 of28)
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Sir Bradley Wiggins enters Knowsley Safari Park on his way to winning the Stage Three Individual Time Trial in the 2013 Tour of Britain in Knowsley. (credit:PA)
Cycling - 2013 Tour of Britain - Stage Three - Knowsley(22 of28)
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Sir Bradley Wiggins celebrates after taking the lead in The Tour of Britain and the gold jersey, during the Stage Three Individual Time Trial in the 2013 Tour of Britain in Knowsley. (credit:PA)
Cycling - 2013 Tour of Britain - Stage Three - Knowsley(23 of28)
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Sir Bradley Wiggins celebrates with his children, Ben and Isabella, after taking the lead in The Tour of Britain and the gold jersey, during the Stage Three Individual Time Trial in the 2013 Tour of Britain in Knowsley. (credit:PA)
Cycling - 2013 Tour of Britain - Stage Three - Knowsley(24 of28)
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Team Sky's Sir Bradley Wiggins enters Knowsley Safari Park on his way to winning the Stage Three Individual Time Trial in the 2013 Tour of Britain in Knowsley. (credit:PA)
Cycling - 2013 Tour of Britain - Stage Three - Knowsley(25 of28)
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Team Sky's Sir Bradley Wiggins celebrates with his children, Ben and Isabella, after taking the lead in The Tour of Britain and the gold jersey, during the Stage Three Individual Time Trial in the 2013 Tour of Britain in Knowsley. (credit:PA)
Cycling - 2013 Tour of Britain - Stage Three - Knowsley(26 of28)
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Team Sky's Sir Bradley Wiggins during the Stage Three Individual Time Trial in the 2013 Tour of Britain in Knowsley. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday September 17, 2013. See PA story CYCLING Tour of Britain. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire (credit:PA)
Cycling - 2013 Tour of Britain - Stage Three - Knowsley(27 of28)
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Team Sky's Sir Bradley Wiggins during the Stage Three Individual Time Trial in the 2013 Tour of Britain in Knowsley. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday September 17, 2013. See PA story CYCLING Tour of Britain. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire (credit:PA)
Cycling - 2013 Tour of Britain - Stage Three - Knowsley(28 of28)
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Team Sky's Sir Bradley Wiggins during the Stage Three Individual Time Trial in the 2013 Tour of Britain in Knowsley. (credit:PA)

"I had to win, whatever. I didn't flinch on the roundabouts in the wet, and fortunately the hospitals are close to where I live, so my wife could have visited me. I knew that...I was prepared to end up in hospital than lose the race. It went perfectly."

Wiggins is now feeling confident about his prospects for the next five stages and believes victory would be a significant feather in his cap following a tough season.

"I've wanted to win this race for a few years, and having done the Tour and the Vuelta for the past few years, I've never had the opportunity to do it," he said.

"I was in no condition last year to ride the race after the Tour de France and Olympics. At this time of the year it's nice to be in great shape to compete well in this race. Every year this race gets more prestigious, gets the more kudos."

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