Despite not being named in Sky’s 2014 Tour de France team, Shane Sutton is confident Bradley Wiggins will not leave Sky at the end of the season.

Asked if he had spoken to Wiggins about his Tour ambitions, Sutton, who is Wiggins's mentor, told Sky Sports News: “Yeah, we have talked about it, and I think if Brad didn’t make the team he would be first to put his hand up and support the team along with everyone else.”

“Sir Dave’s record speaks for itself when it comes to putting teams together and if Brad’s not in that line-up, Brad will accept that.

“I think Brad knows more than anybody what it takes to win the Tour de France and Brad himself could probably put his hand up and say, 'Am I ready or am I not?' We will just have to wait and see until Dave makes that announcement.”

Wiggins is out of contract at the end of the year and he has been heavily linked with Orica-Greenedge as well as a return to former team Garmin-Sharp. But Sutton insists Wiggins still has a role to plat at Sky.

“Sky has been such a big supporter on our road to [the Olympics in] London, our road to Rio now. I’m quite sure that his representatives, Sir Dave (Brailsford) and Sky could sit down and they could map out a great package that gives Brad the flexibility to drop into the Classics, then come back out into the track programme.

“I think when Sky’s offering you a hand like that you would be mad to bite it off, to be honest with you, and I’m pretty sure that he will stay with Sky.”

"Brad doesn’t have to do any more. He’s a legend. He wanted to leave the sport a legend and if he walked away tomorrow he leaves a legend.”

“He has won the Tour de France, numerous Olympics medals, world titles. The guy is a legend in his own right, so for me, why would he go somewhere else and dent his chances of winning that next gold that he really wants in Rio? I think it would be a bad move for Brad to leave Sky.”

However, it remains to be seen if Wiggins will remain with the British team in 2015.