Could Bradley Wiggins tackle the Tour in a Great Britain jersey?

This year's Tour was marred by the latest in a series of doping scandals.

There are suggestions the return of national teams, racing alongside pro outfits, could help edge out professional teams considered suspect.

"If we were asked to enter the Tour and it was politically and logistically feasible we'd do it," said Brailsford.

But he also told The Guardian that if it was in an Olympic year it could prove more difficult to enter a team in the Tour.

Barailsford was responding to the Tour's director Patrice Clerc, who said: "I believe a mixed formula is possible, not merely a proposition.

"Part of the teams invited to the event would be reserved for national squads. It is possible to envisage that and perhaps that is the road that we must go down."

This year's Tour, which was won by Spain's Alberto Contador, saw pre-race favourite Alexandre Vinokourov fail a doping test and race leader Michael Rasmussen sacked by his team after a series of missed tests.

The entire Cofidis team was withdrawn after their rider Cristian Moreni tested positive for testosterone.

Cofidis rider Bradley Wiggins was one of five British cyclists in the 2007 Tour.