One of the early highlights on the route is stage four, which will boasts several cobbled sections and could cause some early splits.

The Mur de Huy is to be tackled the stage before, giving the first two week days of this year’s race a distinctly spring Classics feel.

But LeMond believes, with a kind weather forecast, the stage will not be as destructive this year as it was 12 months ago when Vincenzo Nibali extended his overall lead in torrid conditions.

“The cobbled stage will be a risky day for riders,” he stated. “I don’t believe we’re going to have bad weather, I think it’s going to be sunny.

“That will ease some of the tensions – not just crashes but the risk of splits – but I think it’s going to be fast.

“It doesn’t favour light riders so much. Among the big favourites, Nibali has the best chance but if the teams do it right then there shouldn’t be a huge difference between the top favourites.”