Alberto Contador has proved himself to be on top form already this season, his climbing ability reminiscent of the rider who has become one of the best Grand Tour riders of this generation.

And his show of strength on Jenkin Road proved that the ease with which he is climbing, and climbing well, has not abated.

Stage two provided the perfect test of legs for the GC men, and El Pistolero passed it with flying (fluorescent) colours.

Minus his chief lieutenant Roman Kreuziger, Contador still has a phenomenally strong support – with Michael Rogers and Nicolas Roche proving as much by featuring heavily in the leading group for much of the stage.

The team as a whole, meanwhile, have been happy to take their turn in the wind – even on stage one when the onus was on the sprint teams to set the pace – as they protected their team leader.

Contador started the race as number one in the UCI world rankings, and if the first two stages of this year’s race are anything to go by, it will take some doing to stop both him and his team.