Having played hide-and-seek for most of the season so far, Bradley Wiggins (Sky) is about to get down to serious business in Italy. Starting on Tuesday he will take part in the Giro del Trentino and from May 4 he will star in the Giro d’Italia as the race favourite.

In an interview with Italian daily La Stampa he provided insights into his thoughts and plans for the season. Asked about his aspirations for the 2013 season Wiggins did not contain himself to a repeat win of the Tour de France.

“For long periods of time winning the Tour was the only objective for me and the new Team Sky: An English rider winning the Tour. But it was never my ambition to win a second and a third Tour. Other people may have that dream but I have other priorities.”

“I have always liked the Giro d’Italia but I never managed to squeeze it into my race schedule because I was focusing on the Tour. Now I will have a go at it. The Giro has always fascinated me ever since I was a child. On Saturdays I used to go to [London neighbourhood] Soho to buy Italian newspapers to read about the Giro. It didn’t really matter if they were three or five days old, for me they were the main event of the week and I devoured page after page about the Giro.”

“The first time I saw the Giro on television was back in 1993. It wasn’t broadcast live and it was in the pre-internet days. I bought a VHS-tape and watched it throughout the winter as I trained on my rollers. Paradoxically, not being able to watch the Giro on television made the race even more fascinating in my eyes. In my room I had a picture of Indurain wearing the leader’s pink jersey while riding between two walls of snow on a mountain stage. The stuff of legends!”

Being the first Englishman to win the Tour de France and then subsequently winning Olympic Gold in the individual time trial has changed everyday-life for Wiggins.

“Compared to the time before I won the Tour there’s much more focus on what I do off my bike. I have turned down an endless series of invitations to participate in quiz shows, live talk shows on television and all sorts of arrangements. Despite all my rejections, however, I wasn’t able to resume a relatively normal life with training and races until January.”

“I enjoyed an outstanding season last year, reaching all my goals. Afterwards I asked myself the question ‘What now? What do I do next?’ That’s when the idea of riding the Giro entered my mind. And after the Tour I might even do the Vuelta as well. I’ve decided to do what I want without listening to other people’s expectations. My sole objective is not to disappoint myself. I have done so in the past and have decided not to repeat that mistake.”

When pressed about those mistakes, Wiggins readily expands on what was threatening to evolve into an alcohol-related problem.  “I was young back then and I almost drifted into it [alcohol abuse] without noticing. It was simply part of the culture at the time. One day I realized that in order to succeed I needed to work hard and make sacrifices. I took a long, hard look at myself and realized that I was in the process of messing things up. I only have a limited number of years in which to race and until I hang up my bike I intend to do everything possible, even making huge sacrifices, to be the best that I can. I have learned a lot from my previous mistakes. It’s been a long journey but it has allowed me to win the Tour and the Olympics. Hopefully the journey will last a little longer.”

Ardent Armstrong critic

So far Wiggins has excelled on the track, in the time trials and as a grand tour specialist. In the Classics, however, he has so far failed to shine.

“I’m very passionate about the history of cycling which is part of the reason why I want to ride the Giro. Regarding the one-day Classics there’s one in particular that I would relish winning: The Paris-Roubaix. I like the idea of seeing my name on the winners’ list of one of cycling’s Monuments, the races that make up the history of this sport. I also have another objective, though: The world individual time trial championship.”

Inevitably, Wiggins touches upon doping in the interview. Wiggins has consistently been one of the most outspoken and critical riders in condemning Lance Armstrong for his systematic and year-long doping abuse.

“I became an Armstrong fan in 1993 when he won the world road championship. His win was one of the events that inspired me to become a rider; I was 13 at the time. When Lance won the Tour in 1999 after defeating cancer my admiration for him increased manifold. When I watched his doping confession on television it was very difficult to discuss it with my 7-year-old son who was with me when the tv-show aired. I was filled with rage and anger and it honestly broke my heart. I had to sit there and explain all these things to my son and try to convince him that his father had won the same race as Armstrong but in an entirely different manner. My sole consolation is that unlike Armstrong I will never have to tell my son that I won the Tour by cheating. Only through my strength and that of my team. ”

“I realize it may be difficult to believe but I’m convinced that cycling has indeed changed. Nowadays it is finally possible to win thanks to one’s own strength. Cycling is dealing with the problems it has inherited from the past but times have changed.”