Chris Froome has insisted he does not fear Alberto Contador but conceded winning this year's Tour de France will be a "hard challenge".
Harmony with Wiggins
Team Sky have confirmed Wiggins will ride the Tour, but probably only in a supporting role to Froome.
The dynamic and relationship between the duo has been the source of intense speculation over the winter after they finished first and second in the 2012 race, but Froome is adamant rumours of friction are wide of the mark.
"We have got a perfectly good working relationship, contrary to what everyone makes out and what the journalists say," he added
"There isn't really much to be said. We do what is needed of us. I wouldn't say I spend time with him off the bike, but for one, we live in different countries and he is a few years older than me and married.
"I was annoyed that people played on that [the supposed rivalry at the 2012 Tour de France]. It was a real non-factor in the team.
"I felt I was always doing my job. I know there were moments of miscommunication, which could have been portrayed as me going against Brad.
"But at the end of the day, I always did my job, I always stayed with him when I needed to, helped him all the way through and that was the goal of the team.
Daunting route
"Being professional bike riders, that is our job. The way it is shaping up this year, the roles will be reversed, so he will be doing that job for me."
Tour organisers Amaury Sports Organisation have marked the 100th edition of the race with an epic route containing a summit finish on the legendary Mont Ventoux and two ascents of Alpe d'Huez in a single day.
It has the potential to be one of the most challenging parcours in the recent history of the race - and Froome admits to being daunted.
"The four mountain-top finishes are critical," he said. "Mont Ventoux after 230km of racing is brutal, plus two times up Alpe d'Huez.
"I raced up Alpe d'Huez once, in 2008, and that was hard enough, so do it twice with a tricky descent in the middle is going to be testing to say the least.
"The two time trials are days where probably not a lot of time will be gained, but if something went wrong, you would lose a lot of time.
"It's going to take a well-balanced rider to win the Tour this year - not a pure climber, given that there are time trials in the race."
