Sir Chris Hoy believes that Sir Bradley Wiggins can once again become the Tour de France champion.

Wiggins missed this year's race with injury and illness as his fellow Team Sky cyclist Chris Froome cruised to victory on Sunday.

However, six-time Olympic champion Hoy believes that Wiggins can once again scale the heights he set in 2012, when he won the Tour de France and an Olympic gold medal.

"It's one thing becoming a champion but the hardest thing is actually replicating that," Hoy told reporters. "Everybody is vying to take your spot once you are up there.

"However, Bradley has been a champion for a number of years - he won the Tour de France and has been Olympic champion and world champion.

"I'm sure if he wants to and he has the drive, he could easily be a champion again. I wouldn't be surprised to see him on top again."

Next year's Tour de France will start in the Yorkshire city of Leeds on July 5.