Wiggins returns after surgery to lead Team Sky

London: Bradley Wiggins will return to lead Team Sky in this week`s Tour of Spain after being forced to abandon the Tour de France last month with a broken collarbone.

"Having Bradley back has reinvigorated us all. He has 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," team principal Dave Brailsford said in a news release on Tuesday. Wiggins underwent surgery on his left collarbone after crashing out of the Tour in a multiple pile-up during the seventh stage. The Briton, who has not ridden in the Vuelta before, said: "I want to produce a strong performance for all those people who have supported me since my crash.”"The level of encouragement I`ve received has been overwhelming and I`d like to do everyone proud." The Vuelta, which starts on Saturday in Benidorm, will be an emotional race for Team Sky who abandoned last year`s edition when their Spanish assistant Txema Gonzalez died after contracting a bacterial infection. "The penultimate stage, which ends in his home town of Vitoria, will be a particularly difficult day for everyone involved," Brailsford said."While Txema will forever be in our thoughts, this year`s race should help aid the healing process and allow people to focus on the future." Bureau Report