Time-trial contains various threats to Wiggins

After completing victory in the Tour of Britain on Sunday in a result secured by a devastating time-trial display, the 33-year-old Londoner will ride for the rainbow jersey of world champion in the 58-kilometre course through Tuscany.

Six times a world champion on the track – in events from the 4km individual pursuit and team pursuit to the Madison – Wiggins is bidding for his maiden road world title at the end of a year which has featured numerous disappointments.

To triumph Wiggins, who became Britain’s first Tour de France champion and Olympic time-trial champion within 10 days in 2012, must finish ahead of one of the most competitive fields assembled for the race of truth – the rider against the clock.

Two-time defending champion Tony Martin of Germany, four-time world champion Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland and the United States’ Taylor Phinney are expected to be Wiggins’s main challengers. Briton Alex Dowsett, a time-trial stage winner at May’s Giro d’Italia, is also capable of a high placing.

Cancellara is also targeting Sunday’s road race, in which Wiggins will support 2013 Tour de France champion Chris Froome’s bid for glory, despite the two Britons enduring a fractious relationship.

After abandoning May’s Giro d’Italia through illness and missing the defence of his Tour de France title through injury as Froome won, Wiggins’s desire has returned. While not at quite the same level of prestige as the yellow jersey, winning the Tour of Britain’s gold jersey has provided a further lift in morale.

British Cycling performance director Sir Dave Brailsford said: “It’s going to be tough (in Italy). Tony and Fabian are obviously in great shape, Taylor Phinney too. The winner is going to come out of those three and Bradley.

“I think it’s going to be on the day who delivers.”

n Irishman Pat McQuaid has promised not to prolong the bitter battle over the presidency of the International Cycling Union if he is deposed from office by British challenger Brian Cookson in Friday’s vote.

Although he is confident of being elected to serve a third four-year term in office, McQuaid will accept the result if it does not go his way.

McQuaid, UCI president since 2005, said: “ I know if I lose I certainly won’t be looking to make a legal challenge. I’d walk away.

“I would hope my opponent would do the same.”