Seemingly the forgotten man when it comes to the big Grand Tour contenders, Joaquim Rodriguez has been on the podium at all three Grand Tours despite never winning one.

A race-ending crash at the Giro d’Italia last year denied him the chance to take on Nairo Quintana for the overall win, in what would surely have been a keenly-fought battle, but now the spotlight is off, Purito has what could be a final chance to shine.

The 36-year-old is not getting any younger but finished the Dauphine well – fifth on both of the last two stages – to show he is coming into form nicely.

A strong Spring Classics campaign, on the back of overall success at the Tour of the Basque Country, have proved he should not be written off yet, even if he is very much an outsider compared to the ‘big four’.

The absence of a time trial works hugely in his favour too – his struggles against the clock having been never more evident than when he lost the 2012 Giro d’Italia on the final day.

On his day, he has proved repeatedly he can climb with the best while his knowledge of the Ardennes Classics is likely to see him vying with Alejandro Valverde for an early success on the Mur de Huy on stage three.

In the high mountains, Rodriguez is more than a match for the best too, and while it would be a surprise if he won, he should not be counted out of contention either.

Katusha squad: RODRIGUEZ, Kristoff, Kozontchuk, Guarnieri, Haller, Paolini, Machado, Caruso, Losada

Form guide

Best Tour de France result: third (2013)
Tour de France stage wins: one (2010)
Other Grand Tour highlights: Giro d’Italia – runner-up (2012), points classification winner (2012), two stages (2012); Vuelta a Espana – third (2010, 2012), King of the Mountains (2005), eight stage wins (2003, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013).
2015 highlights: Tour of the Basque Country (two stage wins, winner overall); La Fleche Wallonne (fourth), Liege-Bastogne-Liege (third), Criterium du Dauphine (eighth overall).
UCI WorldTour ranking: 7th