Bradley Wiggins named in Team Sky squad for Vuelta a Espana

Wiggins has recovered well since the operation on his collarbone, Team Sky say

Britain's Bradley Wiggins has been named in Team Sky's squad for the Vuelta a Espana.

Wiggins, 31, will be racing for the first time since breaking a collarbone in a crash that forced him to retire from last month's Tour de France.

The three-time Olympic gold medallist said: "I want to produce a strong performance for all those people who have supported me since my crash."

The Vuelta starts in Benidorm on Saturday and finishes on 11 September.

Wiggins, who will be joined by fellow Britons Chris Froome and Ian Stannard in the Team Sky squad, will use the Vuelta to prepare for the time-trial at the road World Championships, which takes place in Copenhagen on 21 September.

"The Vuelta is a race I haven't ridden before so it will be exciting to take part in," Wiggins explained. "The level of encouragement I've received has been overwhelming and I'd like to do everyone proud. I have a great team here to support me and it should be a really exciting three weeks of racing."

Team Sky principal Dave Brailsford added: "Having Bradley back has reinvigorated us all.

"He will lead the team and has recovered and trained well since his operation, but the fact he hasn't been able to race for seven weeks means we will have to take things day by day."

Wiggins will miss the Tour of Britain in order to compete in Spain, and will not defend his British time-trial title.

He was forced to abandon this year's Tour de France on 6 July after being injured in a high-speed collision, and a week later had an operation where plates were inserted to support his collarbone.