Last year Mark Cavendish's dream of taking yellow on home soil in Harrogate came to nothing when he crashed in the sprint on the opening stage. This year he is back to make amends and after a great performance at Nationals, he is ready to strike.

"It's no secret that I love Le Tour de France," he said at the pre-race press conference. I've won a lot here, and I'd like to get more than one victory because I love winning. But even one stage win at the Tour de France can be enough in a career for one rider. So I am not really going to be disappointed if I don't win multiple stages. 

"I missed this race a lot after the crash from last year. It's great to be here in Utrecht for the start of the 2015 Tour de France.

"I've had this similar run-up to what I had last year before the Tour de France. I was in incredible form last year. I wanted to replicate that coming into this Tour de France so that I would be in the same condition like I was last year. I've been lucky with not being ill, or injured or anything. I'm super happy. I've done everything I can to prepare well for this Tour de France.

"There are a few strong guys here. Kristoff won a lot of stages last year. He's on incredible form this year. You've got two French guys Coquard and Démare. I also forgot Bouhanni. There's a fair few guys to get a good competition.

"There are the same amount of sprints but less pure sprints. There are two or three less than normal for pure bunch sprinters. There's a few guys who can consistently finish up there in a high position,

"Etixx – Quick-Step is here this year with nine strong riders who have different types of stages and situations that can suit them. The Tour de France is 21 days. We've got a superb team who can win on several of those 21 days, whether it be the sprints, the cobbles, the stages with short punchy climbs, or the time trials.

"If we can we can go in and be successful, and come away with multiple stage wins, it doesn't have to be me that actually gets those victories. I am looking forward to going into this Tour de France, seeing what we are capable of, and hopefully we can be successful as a team.