World champion Michal Kwiatkowski is enjoying another fine season, and the Etixx-QuickStep man already has one best young rider jersey to his name from Paris-Nice.

The Polish superstar, 25, won the prologue there and – while he has raced just once, and not shown much form, since the Spring Classics – he will be among the young riders to watch on day one of the Tour.

A winner this year at the Amstel Gold Race and former podium finisher at La Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege, the ‘Classics-like’ opening week will certainly give him a good chance to rest the rainbow bands and wear the white jersey too.

Where Kwiatkowski has struggled in the past, though, is lasting the distance at the Tour de France.

He was fourth for a time last year but eventually dropped to 28^th overall (third best young rider) and it was a similar story the year before, missing out on a top-ten spot he had held for much of the race after struggling to match the best riders in the mountains.

Kwiatkowski will be a strong contender to be in the white jersey by the time the race reaches the first rest day, if he can find form from the off, but beyond that he has not proved he can match the best riders in the high mountains.

Age: 25
Best Tour de France result: 11^th (2013)
2015 highlights: Volta ao Algarve (second overall); Paris-Nice (stage win, second overall, best young rider); Tour of the Basque Country (eighth overall); Amstel Gold Race (winner)