Fabian Cancellara has insisted that his last Tour de France is not another goodbye race, it is simply a case of business as usual as he seeks to help Trek-Segafredo teammate Bauke Mollema finish as high on the GC as possible.

“It’s not a farewell race, I’m looking for results, so it’s business as usual. It’s nothing special,” Cancellara told Cyclingnews. I know what the future is bringing, so I’m relaxed and I’m looking forward to the next few months. I just hope to stay healthy, to enjoy some nice things again but also not to finish on the ground again. I hope that doesn’t happen this year, I want to enjoy the race.”

His leader Bauke Mollema was on the war path, saying a spot overall in the lower reaches of the top ten come Paris will not be deemed a success.

“If I finish in the top 10, such as ninth or something, that wouldn’t satisfy me. You have to aim to improve yourself and that’s my goal: to develop as a rider and keep improving. I’m still at age that I can improve. That’s the goal for this year. It’ll be big fight again for sure. This is the hardest race in world, but I like it.”

"The time trial suits me well because it’s hard, the first week is about survival, then it’s the mountains. You can’t have a bad day and lose too much time. I’m looking to fight yet again and hope to prove that I’m one of the best GC guys in the world.”