Bradley Wiggins targets Tour de France over London 2012
Last updated on .From the section Cycling
Great Britain's Bradley Wiggins will prioritise next year's Tour de France, even if it hampers his chances of winning an Olympic medal in London.
Wiggins has won three Olympic track gold medals but in recent years has become a force on the road, culminating with World silver in the time trial.
"As big as the Olympics are, being in London, it's kind of 'been there, done that'," said the 31-year-old.
"It would be crazy to not do the Tour but it will jeopardise the time trial."
Wiggins, who finished fourth in the 2009 Tour de France, was in contention at this year's race but was forced to retire with a broken collarbone following a crash on stage seven.
However, he returned in time for the Tour of Spain (Vuelta a Espana) where he finished third, behind Team Sky team-mate Chris Froome, to mark the best-ever finish by British riders on one of the three Grand Tours.
"The Vuelta wasn't the main goal so it's not like I prepared for it like it was the Tour and everything had come perfect," Wiggins continued.
"So it's not quite the same circumstances next year, when I'll be in the peak of my attention at the start of the Tour."
The Tour de France finishes on Sunday, 22 July with the Olympic time trial race scheduled for 1 August with the team pursuit beginning the following day in the velodrome.
However, Wiggins is yet to decide whether he will ride on the track or road at the London Games.
"I'm getting pulled left and right from a lot of different areas," he admitted.
"The team pursuit want me, the road want me, Team Sky want me on the Tour. But my saving grace is that I've got one boss who is Dave Brailsford so I think that's also a nice position to be in.
"It's 100% the Tour and everything training towards it but then it's deciding what I do after, whether I go straight to the time trial and do the team pursuit or I just leave the time trial and aim for the pursuit.
"I've certainly got a chance to get a medal in London in the time trial but we've also got a strong chance of winning gold in the team pursuit."
Wiggins helped Team GB win the team pursuit at the Beijing Olympics while his other two gold medals came in the individual pursuit, which will not be raced in London.
