Veteran Scot David Millar is, if rumours are to be believed, set to end his professional career after this season, so victory in Glasgow could be the perfect way to bid farewell. Third to Cavendish last year, Millar will be roared on by a partisan home crowd as he bids to follow the time trial gold medal he won in Delhi last time out. Having transformed himself from a time trial specialist in the latter years of his career, Millar’s attacking style is likely to see him in the leading group again in Glasgow.

His supporting cast could include Andy Fenn, who rode so effectively for Omega Pharma-Quickstep team-mate Mark Cavendish on these streets last year – whereas Millar had no Garmin-Sharp team-mates in the race for support. And though not known for his sprinting ability, Millar proved by winning stage 12 of the 2012 Tour de France that he is capable of winning from the break if required.