Doping not worth the risk: Wiggins

14 Jul 2012, 5:51 pm   -   Source: AAP
Tour de France race leader Brad Wiggins (C) says he's coming to grips with speculation about doping. (AAP)

Tour de France race leader Brad Wiggins (C) says he's coming to grips with speculation about doping. (AAP)

Tour de France race leader Brad Wiggins says he's coming to grips with speculation about doping.

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Britain's Bradley Wiggins says he is ready to accept the drugs scrutiny bestowed upon the yellow jersey holder at the Tour de France - if it helps to show that he is racing 100 per cent clean.

Wiggins took another step towards an historic victory in the race on Friday after coming through the 226km 12th stage with his 2min 05sec lead on Sky teammate Chris Froome intact.

But as Wiggins continues his bid to become Britain's first winner of the race, it has not been all plain sailing while wearing the race leader's storied tunic.

Since he took the lead on stage seven's uphill finish to La Planche des Belles Filles, where Froome took the win ahead of Evans, Team Sky have come under media scrutiny.

Their style of driving a hard pace up the tough climbs of the race has prompted some commentators to compare Sky to the dominant US Postal team once headed by Lance Armstrong, the seven-time champion who faces serious doping charges in the United States.

In some sections of the French press, Sky have even been dubbed 'UK Postal'.

And the team have done little to appease their doubters, banning any questions about doping issues at a recent press conference on the first rest day on Tuesday.

That ban came only days after Wiggins had reacted angrily to a journalist's request for Wiggins' views on media speculation suggesting Sky's success may not be down to bread and water alone.

After spending his sixth day in the race lead on Friday, the 32-year-old said he is ready to see things from a different perspective.

"I take it very personally -- perhaps I shouldn't take it personally, perhaps it's just the position our sport is in from the people who have set a precedent and sat in this position before me -- when I'm asked those questions," said Wiggins.

"What can I do? I do want to start building bridges to prove that I'm doing this off of bread and water and nothing else, and hard work."

The three-time Olympic track cycling champion said he would never cheat to win, because he could never accept it -- nor risk losing everything that's he's worked hard for.

"What is the point in winning the Tour de France, or attempting to win the Tour, if it's not going to go down in history for the right reasons or with a slight amount of suspicions from parts of the media?" he said.

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