Another young rider looking to seize the opportunity to make his mark as team leader is Belkin’s 22-year-old Dutchman Wilco Kelderman. After an encouraging 2013 season, which included victory in the 2.HC-classified Tour of Denmark and the white jersey at the Tour de Romandie, Kelderman only started his 2014 season at the Volta ao Algarve. However, the team has confirmed that he will be given the opportunity to contend for GC honours at Paris-Nice and follow up his fifth place in Portugal last month.

The absence of an individual time trial will restrict Kelderman’s hopes of winning, having proved himself more than capable of earning time against the clock. However, top ten finishes in last year’s Tour Down Under, Tour de Romandie and the Eneco Tour show he is perfectly capable of climbing too, and third place in the Giro d’Italia young riders’ classification highlight his consistency. Kelderman will be able to count on the support of the likes of Lars Boom, Moreno Hofland and Maarten Wynants in his bid for at least a podium place. Though he lacks the star billing of the likes of Costa and Porte, he is certainly one to keep an eye on.