After saying his only goal in 2016 is the Rio time trial for the Olympics, Tom Dumoulin has been advised by Sky manager Dave Brailsford to also target the Tour de France.

Brailsford told Cycling Weekly: “We won the Tour and the time trial in London back to back, and we know how to do that, with the right approach and the right knowledge, and the right development and thought processes… You have to shoot for stars and get to the moon.”

Brailsford has likened the Dutchman on Gaint-Alpecin to Bradley Wiggins and Movistar manager Eusebio Unzue has said he sees similarities with Miguel Indurain. Both agree that Dumoulin is a very special rider.

“He’s a special talent, no doubt about it. He’s recovering well, he’s robust obviously, and the question would be [what he can do] going forward in bigger races,” Brailsford said.