Bradley Wiggins has stated his intentions of going back to the track in a quest to add more medals to his tally at the 2016 Olympics in Rio di Janeiro. However, British Cycling chief Ian Drake warns that the former Tour de France champion faces fierce competition and has to earn his place.

After his extraordinary 2012 season, Bradley Wiggins was unable to repeat his success in 2013. A failed attempt to win the Giro d'Italia saw him make several statements that indicated that his time as a grand tour contender is over.

While Wiggins has made several statements that point in different directions regarding his future ambitions, one thing appears to be certain. The former Tour de France champion wants to go back to the track to take more medals at the 2016 Olympics in Rio and he could end his road career already at the end of the 2014 season.

Wiggins has won 7 medals, four of which are gold, at the last four Olympics and added a time trial gold to his track collection last year in London. Chris Hoy and rower Steve Redgrave are the only Brits to have taken more gold medals - 6 and 4 respectively - than Wiggins and a successful Rio campaign could see Wiggins equal those two sport giants.

Despite being a decorated track star, Wiggins is, however, in no way guaranteed a spot on the British team.

"Bradley wanting to come back is great but competition is high," British Cycling chief Ian Drake told BBC Sport. "Decisions are made on performance basis and podium performances, not what has been done historically.

"The strength in depth of athletes that we have got now is phenomenal," he added. "Everyone who pulls on the Great Britain jersey now knows they are in a fight for those places. People have to earn that jersey. You only have to look at what happened in terms of selections for London 2012 with Jason Kenny and Hoy."

Drake refers to the fierce battle between Kenny and Hoy for the only British spot in the individual sprint at the London Olympics. Despite Hoy being the defending champion, Kenny was selected and he paid back the confidence by winning a gold medal.

Drake refuses to set a medal target but wants to support the Team GB's aim to at least equal its overall medal tally achieved at London 2012.

"It's a massive challenge and one set by government," he said. "Can we be the first nation that has hosted a Games to do as well or even better in the following Games?"

Wiggins will continue on the road in the 2014 season. At the moment, his targets are unclear even though he has indicated that he would like to go back to the Tour to ride in support of defending champion Chris Froome.