There may be no Nairo Quintana (Movistar), and 2012 champion Sir Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) also misses out, but the startlist for the 101st Tour de France is as strong as ever for the prestigious race.

It could well become a two-horse race between Alberto Contador and Chris Froome, as many are expecting, but if they slip up there are plenty of riders keen for at least the top ten, if not better.

World champion Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) won the Tour de Suisse to show he is in good form, and at the very least he will be after a repeat of his stage wins from last year.

Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing) and Romain Bardet (Ag2r-La Mondiale) will be flying the flag for the young riders, meanwhile.

Bauke Mollema (Belkin) showed last year he can challenge overall too, and looked in good shape at the Tour de Suisse while plenty of Pro Continental riders will challenge for a top ten place.

Daniel Navarro (Cofidis) showed just how much the gap is narrowing between the WorldTour riders and those from the second-tier with his top-ten placing last year, while Leopold Konig (Team NetApp-Endura) will be keen to repeat the form he showed at the Vuelta.

Of all the Pro Continental riders, however, none are in as good form as Mathias Frank (IAM Cycling) however – the Swiss rider having finished fourth in Romandie and second at the Tour de Suisse. If he can carry his form from his home country into Yorkshire and France, a place in the top ten is certainly his for the taking.