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DERMOT MURNAGHAN: Well now, Bradley Wiggins could be just one week away from being Britain’s first ever winner of the Tour de France, the world’s greatest cycle race. In less than an hour, Team Sky will begin Stage 14 of that race and joining me from Limoux in Southern France is the general manager of Team Sky, Dave Brailsford and the man in yellow himself, Bradley Wiggins. Well let’s start with you, Bradley, is this just another day in the saddle for you or are the nerves genuinely beginning to jangle a bit?

BRADLEY WIGGINS: No, I think every day we just treat as a one day race, that’s what we’ve been doing since the start in Liege and every day that goes past is a step closer to Paris and today is no exception, we still have to go out there and do a job and marshal the race as best as possible, think about all the little things like fuelling well during the day because you are out there for six hours and that’s what we’ve been doing since the start in Liege, so yes, today is just another day in the Tour de France.

DM: I mean it is an enormous achievement, what you’ve done already, in terms of the length of time you’ve been there in yellow but you’re getting so close now, I guess I know the answer to this one, that would not be enough if you are not wearing it by the time you get to Paris?

BW: No, it’s been obvious all year, we’ve stated that our goal was to win the Tour de France, that was the same in Liege and that hasn’t changed and we’re almost there now, we’re within touching distance of Paris and as I say, we’ve got some tough stages still to come but we’re just continuing what we’ve been doing best all year really as a team. The boys are set on that and nothing has really changed.

DM: Let’s bring Dave in here, Dave Brailsford. Bradley was talking there about the team spirit, we’ve seen that on the road, how have you fostered that, created that and maintained it?

DAVE BRAILSFORD: The key thing is to be clear about the goal of the tam and then set about every single rider understanding their role, how we are going to try and attack this race and what we need to do and then I think when you get riders who train together and race together as much as these guys have all year, there’s a natural bond that’s created and when you get the success they’ve had and the success that Bradley’s had leading this team this year, I think everybody comes together as a unit so it becomes relatively straightforward I think.

DM: Does it get harder though in terms of the on the road dynamic with other teams? They are less likely to offer you a dig out, a bit of a hand there, as you’re the team that’s bossing them around with the yellow jersey.

DB: I think that’s right, I think the opportunity of other teams seeing the opportunity to work together to try and take the jersey from Bradley is becoming more and more apparent but I think as the race has gone on, the team that was really strong, is strong as a unit, they’ve ridden really well together and they haven’t put a foot wrong so far so I think if we continue in that vein and the guys continue to commit as a unit in that vein and we remain vigilant, we should be okay.

DM: I want to ask you, Bradley, about that team ethos, you exhibited it yesterday in the final 500 metres when you led out Edvard Boasson Hagen giving him a chance to go for sprint victory there. You’ve got a sense that you’re part of that team as well, so you may be in yellow but you’re not the king.

BW: Well that’s the way it’s been all year and last year and the year before, this is a group that has been building steadily over the last couple of years. Me and Edvard are the existing members of the first Tour de France team in 2010 so he is an absolute gentleman and he gives so much to this team and his presence but as an individual he is an incredible athlete himself so if I could try and repay him in some way yesterday and set him up maybe for a stage win it’s my gratitude to him really so it was, it didn’t come off but half the enjoyment is in trying things like that.

DM: And it didn’t take anything out of the legs.

BW: Well sometimes Dermot, you’re making that effort whether you’re in first or thirtieth sometimes, if there’s a small break or a small break in the peloton, so sometimes it’s the safest place to be, on the front.

DM: And in terms of colleagues, we’ve got to pay tribute, haven’t we, to number two in the general classification, also from Team Sky, Chris Froome. Do you think you would be being where you are without him?

BW: I think as a team me and Chris are probably there because of the team and they put us there through that very difficult first week, staying in the front. Me and Chris race well together, we’ve obviously had great success last year and Chris is another one who’s been in this team since the start and we’ve built an incredible working relationship and we’ve always been successful together so yes, an incredible guy to have on the same team as you, that’s for sure.

DM: And I have to ask Dave Brailsford about it, you’ll have been reading about it, that you’ve been telling Chris Froome to hold back, that he could actually win it?

DB: No, I think we’re in a situation here, this team is built around having strong riders and all of the riders in this team could do things in their own right but the bottom line is we’re here, Bradley has had a fantastic season so far, he has won all of the week long stage races there are, he is leading the race by two minutes, we’ve got a long time trial to come. He is the world’s best time trail at this moment in time so we’re here to defend that lead and that’s what they will do as a unit.

DM: So what are the dangers ahead? Just highlight the week ahead for us, Dave Brailsford, you’ll have analysed it, what stages should we watch out for where somebody else could – Cadel Evans, the current holder of the crown – someone like that might choose to attack?

DB: Well I think the key thing for the guys at the minute is to stay vigilant at all times. I think if you start thinking well we’re okay until two days’ time, then I think you put yourself in danger and I think the key thing for Brad and the team is to think about today, really look at all aspects of today, take it kilometre by kilometre, climb by climb and then at the end of today review where we’re at and go again with the same thing tomorrow and I don't think you can start thinking too much ahead. It’s all about process and not the outcome for the time being but certainly if we can get through the Pyrenees in the next few days in good shape, without losing any time, then I think we’ll be on the home straight heading into Paris.

DM: Okay, Dave, I just can’t leave this without mentioning, I mean a glittering array of talent within Team Sky, we haven’t mentioned the World Champion, Mark Cavendish. He hasn’t featured much in the last few days, of course looking towards the Olympics, that road race and hoping for gold there. Is he beginning to flag or is he saving his legs, is he going to complete the Tour?

DB: Well I think, I’m glad you mentioned Mark actually because he got awarded here by L’Equipe magazine for being the best sprinter of all time in the Tour de France and we shouldn’t forget that he is a world champion, he is a phenomenal athlete, he has won a stage here already, there are more opportunities coming up, he is in great shape but I think the work that he’s done – and a lot of people see Mark crossing the line first with his arms in the air but they probably don’t see what a great team mate he can be and the team player he can be and certainly in this race he has supported the team in helping getting bottles and doing everything that he can to support Bradley in his quest to try and win this race and I think credit to him but with the Olympics coming up in just a couple of weeks now, the opportunity for him to be ready for that race is looking really, really good and I’m sure on that day all the guys will be getting right behind Mark to try and maximise his chances of winning there.

DM: We can see Bradley nodding along there. Listen, best of luck to you both and hope that in seven days’ time, Bradley, you’re still in that colour. Thank you both very much indeed for your time.

BW: Thank you.

DB: Thanks Dermot.