After Oleg Tinkov’s offer to stump up €1million for a ‘Three Grand Tours Challenge’ was politely declined, we will only get one chance to see the four best Grand Tour riders in the peloton go wheel-to-wheel over three weeks this season.

The Tour de France will see likely defending champion Vincenzo Nibali (Astana), 2013 winner Chris Froome (Team Sky), Giro d’Italia champion Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and Vuelta a Espana victor Alberto Contador (TInkoff-Saxo) line up for the Grand Depart in Utrecht.

The presence of all four in the same Grand Tour – the first time it has happened – is sure to mean fireworks in the mountains.

With Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) also expected at the Tour, it could one of the most keenly-fought Grand Tours of all time.

And if you cannot wait until July to see all five go head-to-head, Tirreno-Adriatico could see Froome, Contador, Nibali and Quintana all in action and serve as the perfect early form-finder.