Australian team Orica-GreenEDGE are lining up Sir Bradley Wiggins to join their team once his contract runs out to help them realise their grand tour potential.
Sports director at the outfit, Matt White, told the Sydney Morning Herald that the 2012 Tour de France winner is someone that would fit in with their ethos.
Orica already have Bury twins Adam and Simon Yates in their squad and, despite Wiggins’ management company not having commented on the rumour, White believes the future is bright for his team.
“If we can keep that group for the next two years we will have one hell of a Tour de France team in two to three years,” said former pro White, in reference to his team including Esteban Chaves, the Yates duo, Luke Durbridge and Michael Hepburn.
The 34-year-old Wiggins recently won the Tour of California and worked with White during his time at Garmin in 2009 when Wiggins made his break though at the Tour de France, finishing fourth and then receiving a belated podium position after Lance Armstrong was busted for doping.
“I would love to work with Wiggo,” White said. “Our team is ready to have a grand tour rider next year.
“We have identified people who would fit in to the culture of our team. They are people who are ready to come to the team and we are ready to support them.
“If Bradley was to come we would have to have the money to buy him. He is not going to come for free.”
The Wigan-based rider, whose contract is up at the end of the year, has reiterated his desire to ride the Tour de France this year in the service of defending champion and teammate Chris Froome despite the well-publicised issues the two have had in the past.
The one sticking point is that Wiggins wants to return to the track for the Rio Olympics in 2016 in a bid to win his fifth gold medal.
“We would have to know what his plans are for next the two years,” White admitted. “His ambitions at Sky are certainly different to a year ago.
“Obviously, 2016 would be a write off for the Tour, but he is a guy who could definitely fit in.”
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