Cycling: Wiggins targets Vuelta victory after 'fantastic' first 10 days

Bradley Wiggins is well-placed in the Vuelta a Espana after a fine time trial effort (REUTERS)

Team Sky's Bradley Wiggins is thrilled with his position in the Vuelta a España, with the race for Madrid set to resume today. Wiggins crashed out of the Tour de France with a broken collarbone but now sits third in the Tour of Spain standings after 10 days of racing, with Team Sky colleague Chris Froome in the lead.

Speaking on today's rest day, Wiggins said: "Eight weeks ago I was in a hospital bed, lying there having had an operation. To come back from that with no racing and getting better and stronger in the bunch, feeling more confident – it's great. Sitting here on the first rest day, third overall, it's a fantastic position to be in. It's all to play for now in the next two weeks."

Despite Froome moving into first place after taking the red jersey in Monday's time-trial in Salamanca, Wiggins remains Team Sky's leader. Wiggins added: "Having your team-mate leading is almost a luxury position for me to be in because it deflects the pressure I'd have in those stages. And now I'm there in the wings, ready to take over when necessary. It's a nice little problem for the team to have."

Sky's Geraint Thomas will next month put his individual hopes first and target overall success in the Tour of Britain. The 25-year-old from Cardiff was yesterday named in Sky's six-man squad for the race, which begins in Peebles on 11 September and concludes in central London a week later.

Thomas will be the team leader for the eight-day race around the UK before reverting to his usual support role as Mark Cavendish bids for the World Championships title in Copenhagen on 25 September.