Having put in some good rides in the final week of the Giro d’Italia without reward – third place on stage 18 the closest he came – Irishman Philip Deignan continued his encouraging form at the Tour de Suisse.

Second from the breakaway on stage two, he also finished sixth on stage eight and also put in a huge shift for the team, leading the bunch over the climbs on stage six.

It leaves open the question as to whether the Donegal-man has earned a shot at the Tour, to follow his Giro appearance.

His form is certainly encouraging, and the fact he was strong enough to finish sixth on the penultimate stage of a nine-day race and ride in alongside Tony Martin on the final day shows he still has the legs.

But could he manage three weeks in France, pulling hard on the bunch each day?

With little opportunity for joining the breaks at the Tour, and with Sky likely to be set up purely with the aim of supporting Froome’s GC bid, there will be a lot of riding into the wind for the domestiques.

With fresher legs in the squad, Deignan could well miss out, but his form at least bodes well for the future, limited though that may be at age 30.