Defending Tour de France champion Vincenzo Nibali has not ripped up any trees at the start of this season, but then he hadn’t at this point 12 months ago either.

Tenth overall at the Tour of Romandie saw Nibali feature on the first page of the results sheet for the first time since season, but the Dauphiné will give the Italian the opportunity to step things up once again.

Astana are riding the crest of a wave, too, after five stage wins, the white jersey, team classification and second and third overall at the Giro d’Italia – and that was without the likes of Nibali, Michele Scarponi, Lars Boom and Lieuwe Westra, who all form a part of the Kazakh-based team’s squad for the Dauphine.

If Nibali turns up in top form, then, as he proved at the Tour last year, he can be almost unstoppable – but that Tour de France was part of a well-timed peak in the season for Nibali, so he may well keep his cards close to his chest at the Dauphiné ahead of his Tour title defence.

Vincenzo Nibali – form guide

Best 2015 results: Tour de Romandie (tenth)

Best Criterium du Dauphine result: seventh (2009, 2014)