Froome: I'll lead Team Sky at Tour

Chris Froome expects to be Team Sky's spearhead for a second straight Tour de France victory next year - not defending champion Bradley Wiggins.

With a mountainous course in France this year which plays to Froome's strengths more than those of Wiggins, it has been widely assumed the 27-year-old will be the team leader and he believes he has been told by team principal Dave Brailsford that will be the case.

Froome told The Times: "The team are saying they are going to back me with the Tour this year. That's directly from Dave.

He said: 'You're our man for the Tour. Focus on it.'"

Wiggins, who on Sunday was named Sports Personality of the Year, has previously stated his focus for 2013 will be the Giro d'Italia, adding further weight to Froome's Tour case, but Brailsford himself was more equivocal on the matter.

Brailsford told The Guardian: "At the moment Chris is going full gas for the Tour and Brad is going there by a different route and we will see when we get there.

"The guys will be trying to be the best they can be. We will see what condition they are in. The legs will do the talking."