An angry Nibali accused Wiggins of staring at him in a disrespectful manner at the end of the stage. "Wiggins looked at me at the finish and I really did not like the way he did it," said the Italian, who won Spain's Vuelta two years ago and was third in the Giro d'Italia last season. "He also gestured with his hand in an unpleasant way. But I'm speaking about respect, about tradition. We are not footballers."

Hit out at his critics ... Bradley Wiggins. Credit:AFP

Wiggins, who is obliged to attend a daily press conference by virtue of being the race leader, did not respond to Nibali's comments, but again was asked for his thoughts about the spectre of doping in cycling.

"I understand it from certain parts of the media, but I don't feel like I should have to sit here and justify everything I have done to the world," said Wiggins. "I'm not some s--- rider who has just came from nowhere. I've been three-times Olympic champion on the track. People have to realise what kind of engine you need to win an Olympic gold medal as an individual pursuiter.

"I've been six-times world champion, fourth in the Tour de France, third in the Vuelta last year. It's not like I've just come from nowhere. I've got an incredible pedigree behind me, junior world champion since I was 18 and an incredible rise through the ranks. I didn't lose my cool on Sunday, I just said what I think. It's completely different. If I'd lost my cool, this table would've been on the floor down there.