After Bauke Mollema led Trek-Segafredo at the last Tour de France, sitting in second overall until the final few mountain stages, he may have hoped to have done even better with the team in 2017. But the arrival of Alberto Contador may throw things in doubt. The Spaniard insists he and the Dutchman can improve each other, however.

"There's no problem," Contador to De Telegraaf. "We have plenty of races ahead of the Tour to get used to each other and I am confident that we will both discover the benefits of working together. I am convinced that we can strengthen each other, that we can form a strong partnership. He can probably learn something from my experience just as he can give me different insights too."

Contador says that despite Mollema finishing 11th in Paris, he has more than proved he can challenge for the Tour de France and says he is looking forward to working with him.

"Bauke was very strong during the last Tour. On Mont Ventoux, he was the only one who could bridge the gap to Chris Froome and Richie Porte. In the subsequent time trial, he confirmed his talents as a classification rider. It is unfortunate that he fell on the way to Saint -Gervais-Mont-Blanc. I see him as a very consistent rider who is willing to go on the attack. I look forward to working with him."