Pierre Rolland wore the polka dot jersey (and outlandish matching shorts) for large chunks of the 2013 race, before Nairo Quintana (Movistar) took control of the classification en-route to finishing second overall behind Chris Froom (Team Sky).

Rolland’s Europcar team-mate Thomas Voeckler was King of the Mountains in 2012 and both men are no strangers to breakaways or getting up to the front of the race in the mountains, but it is Rolland who appears better suited to the challenge in the high Alps and Pyrenees this year.

Having lost a lot of time on the opening two stages of the race, Rolland won’t be bidding for overall glory so, with his team desperate for exposure in their home race, a ti;t for the polka dot jersey looks set to be on the cards again.