by Justin Davis

MARTIGNY, Switzerland, July 20, 2009 (AFP) – The chances of seeing a British rider on the Tour de France podium have looked slim for decades, and Bradley Wiggins insists that punters should not start laying bets just yet.

Garmin rider Wiggins has defied his popular status as a top track rider to stay in the race’s top ten from the start, confirming his emerging climbing talents on the four mountain stages held so far in the process.

After the first of three stages in the Alps, the Londoner sits just 1:46 behind 2007 champion Alberto Contador, who took the yellow jersey with a solo attack and victory on Sunday on stage 15.

Wiggins, a triple Olympic pursuit champion in track, admitted he could get carried away with heady thoughts of finishing among the top three overall in Paris next Sunday.

But with two tough climbing days before Thursday’s time trial, then the penultimate stage climb to the summit of Mont Ventoux on Saturday, he is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

“I’m not stupid enough to think I can beat Contador, he’s proved by and far he’s the best bike rider in this race,” Wiggins told reporters here Monday on the race’s last rest day.

“I knew I was physically capable of a top 15 or 20 finish but right now I’m not looking too far ahead.

“Anything can happen from one day to the next – I could have lost four minutes in the first week because of splits and crashes.

“We’re just looking at one day at a time. Tomorrow’s another tough stage.

“I’ll get tomorrow first, then the next day, then the time trial and then get through Mont Ventoux. Paris is a long way off yet.

“The race is by no means done yet.”

The last time Wiggins completed the Tour, in 2006, he finished in 123rd place overall when he rode with Cofidis.

Three years later, with two new gold medals from the Beijing Olympics, Wiggins is now attracting plaudits from both Contador and Australia’s two-time runner-up Cadel Evans.

However Wiggins insists he’s taking it one day at a time.

“Tomorrow’s a tough stage, two big climbs. I don’t think much too far ahead than that,” he said.

“It’s small steps. Tomorrow’s another day on the Tour de France and as history shows everything can be lost in one day.”