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![Bradley Wiggins [c]](http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/60811000/jpg/_60811502_brad-getty.jpg)
Bradley Wiggins plays down Tour chances after Dauphine triumph
Britain's Bradley Wiggins has won the Criterium du Dauphine for the second straight year.
Wiggins, 32, retained his title in the French Alps, finishing one minute and 17 seconds ahead of fellow Team Sky rider Michael Rogers of Australia.
Bradley Wiggins in 2012
Paris-Nice: 1st
Tour de Romandie: 1st
Volta ao Algarve: 3rd
Criterium du Dauphine: 1st
Another Australian, reigning Tour de France champion Cadel Evans, finished third.
"It's a big win but I wouldn't say I'm the favourite for the Tour de France," said Wiggins.
The Tour de France begins on 30 June and Wiggins will be full of confidence going into the gruelling three-week race.
He is eager to make up for last year's disappointment when a broken collarbone forced him out of the event.
But Wiggins was keen to play down his chances of winning the Tour de France after his third major title of 2012.
2012 Criterium du Dauphine
1 Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky)
2 Michael Rogers (Team Sky)
3 Cadel Evans (BMC Racing)
4 Chris Froome (Team Sky)
5 Jurgen Van den Broeck (Lotto)
As well as the Criterium du Dauphine, Wiggins has won Paris-Nice and the Tour de Romandie.
"Everyone talks a lot about the Tour de France, but winning Paris-Nice and the Criterium du Dauphine in the same year, that's huge," added Wiggins.
"So whatever happens on the Tour, I can already be satisfied.
"This is probably the best shape I've ever been in to win the Tour.
"My time trialling's improved, my climbing's improved, my team's really strong and they've improved and I'm ready to go.
"But it's probably going to be the hardest thing I've done."
Wiggins had held a lead of one minute and 20 seconds over Rogers heading into the seventh and final stage of the Criterium, and never looked like surrendering that advantage as he safely finished in the pack to retain his title.
The stage victory went to Daniel Moreno of the Katusha team, who completed the 124.5km ride from Morzine to Chatel in a time of two hours, 59 minutes and 37 seconds.
Moreno's fellow Spaniard Luis-Leon Sanchez was second on the day following a sprint finish.
Britain's Chris Froome finished fourth overall.
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Comment number 65.
oz500010th June 2012 - 23:15
2012 Wiggins is a completely different beast to the '09 TdF version that came a very commendable 4th. His preparation in 2010, by his own admission was a disaster. He was a clear GC contender last year before his crash and his regime and results this year shows a maturity and focus that will see him in yellow in Paris. The Cav issue is a non-starter; Brailsford won't sacrifice GC for stages.
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Comment number 50.
Faxthewax10th June 2012 - 20:26
Great achievement from Team Sky again. However I think they will find it very hard to support both a GC contender in Brad and stage win setup around Cav at the TDF. Surely the domestiques won't be able to pull on the front all day to reel in breakaways for Cav and then be expected to support Brad through the mountains. After this week they will receive little help from other teams thats for sure.
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Comment number 45.
Robert10th June 2012 - 20:02
Wiggo will probably take yellow after the prologue, so, they will have to pull the breaks back on every stage. That will help Cav. I think Boasson Hagen and Eisel will lead him out. Eisel will stay with him in the mountains. Let's hope he can stay in the time limits this year!
Wiggo will have Rogers and Froome. So that leaves Uran, Flecha and Porte to do the pulling. I hope thats enough.
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Comment number 37.
SteveOut10th June 2012 - 19:27
Wiggins is clearly good enough to win the tour, which is amazing, but winning a 3 week race is never easy, even for someone as dominant as Armstrong was. Well done Wiggins for a stunning 2012....perhaps the best is still yet to come! Green and Yellow this year? Time for dreaming is now, fun isn't it! We have two superstars of the road whatever happens in a few weeks time.
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Comment number 35.
Ian Ellis10th June 2012 - 19:21
Just to bring some statistics to the debate about whether or not a GC team can also win the green jersey: in the last 40 years the same team has won the yellow and green 5 times (72, 77, 79, 96 and 97). Admittedly in 72 (Merckx) and 79 (Hinault) the yellow and green were won by the same person, but it does show that it has been done! Good luck Brad.
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