Some riders have described the opening week as being like a series of Classics, rather than a Grand Tour with potentially decisive moments littered through the first week.

It is familiar territory to Kelly, a winner of four of the five Monument Classics during his career, and he hopes the big GC favourites are able to stay safe on the difficult route to tee up their battle in the mountains.

If the weather turns, however, then Kelly is anticipating a perilous opening week for the favourites.

“I’m expecting an exciting race first and foremost,” he told RCUK. “You can’t look beyond the four main riders – Froome, Contador, Quintana, Nibali – so I’m hoping that all five will still be in strong contention after the first five days of racing.

“As we saw last year, if the weather conditions are not favourable it could make the race very, very dangerous.

“I think we’re going to see some crashes, that’s without a doubt on those first five days, but if the weather conditions are not favourable, if we get wind and rain, it will be a Grand National for the first five days [riders falling at every hurdle].”