Runner-up in 2012 behind team-mate Bradley Wiggins and then winner in 2013, Team Sky’s Chris Froome has a point to prove after crashing out last year.

Froome came back strong to finish second at the Vuelta a Espana behind Alberto Contador and, on the back of his Criterium du Dauphine win, enters the Tour as a man in top form.

The Dauphine victory was achieved thanks to two stage wins on the final two days, though he had already shown plenty of attacking intent before then.

His unmatchable accelerations in the mountains mean there is plenty of optimism in the Team Sky camp, and rightly so with a strong team at his disposal too.

Richie Porte returns, in-form Geraint Thomas will be at his side and Alberto Contador’s former team-mate Nicolas Roche offers hugely valuable experience.

Froome bettered Nibali at the Dauphine and was too good for Contador at the Ruta del Sol, coming back strong after Contador won their first battle.

The absence of a long individual time trial does not work in his favour but the way he has been climbing this year, it should not matter.

Even without the chance to earn some big time gaps against the clock, though, Froome will be very hard to beat if he can carry his form from the Dauphine into the Tour.

Sky squad: FROOME, Porte, Thomas, Kennaugh, Stannard, Rowe, Roche, Konig, Poels.

Form guide

Best Tour de France result: Winner (2013)
Tour de France stage wins: four (2012, 2013)
Other Grand Tour highlights: Vuelta a Espana – runner-up (2011, 2014), one stage win (2011)
2015 highlights: Ruta del Sol (stage win, winner overall); Tour de Romandie (third overall); Criterium du Dauphine (two stage wins, winner overall).
UCI WorldTour ranking: 16th