Veteran sprinter Alessandro Petacchi has topped the points classification twice before, in 2004 and 2007 – though the latter was later stripped from the record. He returns to the race this year as the oldest rider in the peloton but with Mark Cavendish absent, will lead the Omega Pharma-Quickstep charge for sprint victories. A key component of Cavendish’s sprint train so far this season, Petacchi has had to play second fiddle to the Manxman – though he did win the GP Cerami.

With the chance to shine in a race at which he has already won 27 individual stages however, Petacchi has the chance to add to his legendary status by bagging a few more this time out. He no longer has the legs of riders like Marcel Kittel, but what he does have is vast experience – something which has already come in very handy for Cavendish and co. The Belgian super team’s prime focus is Rigoberto Uran’s GC bid, but one of the strongest teams in the peloton will be keen to prove they can challenge on all fronts.