Chris Froome (Sky) has vowed to attack in the mountain stages this year's Tour in a change of strategy from last year's race where Team Sky mostly controlled the pace of the peloton. The Briton sees himself as a different rider than last year's captain and so will take a different approach to the race.

Many saw last year's Tour de France as a less spectacular edition due to the lack of attacks in the mountain stages. A formidably strong Sky team simply discouraged any offensive racing with its torturous tempo on the slopes which allowed Bradley Wiggins to stay comfortable and avoid changes in rhythm, the Briton sealing the wins in the time trials.

Wiggins won't be back this year and instead the Sky leadership has been taken over by Chris Froome. Like Wiggins, the Kenyan-born Briton appears to be superior to his rivals in the time trials and he could probably go into the race with a similar strategy to last year's.

Despite his time trialling strength, Froome is, however, a much different rider than Wiggins and he has made a habit of attacking in the mountains. He has already won four stage races this year and in all of those, he has accelerated to leave his rivals behind in the queen stages.

In an interview with L'Equipe, Froome vows to continue that aggressive racing at the world's biggest race.

"We are not the same riders, "Froome said. "I'm not as strong as the Bradley against the clock. I am stronger than him in the mountains. I can accelerate more easily respond to attacks by pure climbers. This can change the view of the Tour de France.Last year, the goal was to stay ahead of the pack with Bradley. This year, I'll definitely try to get out of the pack, attacking in the mountains ".

Much has been said about the internal rivalry between Froome and Wiggins at last year's Tour where Froome evidently had to slow down to wait for his captains in the mountains. Since then a public debate over team leadership for the Tour evolved until Wiggins finally had to forfeit his participation due to a knee injury.

This has assured Froome the role as captain but he claims that the absence of Wiggins will be negatively felt.

"Yes, I'm going to miss him," he said. "Of course I on't miss all the attention and questions from the media about the team leadership. Since November I have been asked that question. On the other hand, Bradley would have been a great engine for the team and he could have been crucial in the team time trial and in the mountains. He could have done a lot of work if he had been here to help."

With the captain role, Froome will also feel the added stress of extra media attention.

"Last year, Bradley arrived at the hotel an hour later than us because of the media requests," he said. "It surprised me."

However, Froome has had time to settle into the leadership role. He first had the chance to captain his team at the Vuelta last year and since has been at the helm in five different stage races during the early part of the season.

"I have more confidence now," he explained. "Last year I did the Vuelta as a leader. This year I had a clear focus: every race was just preparation for the Tour, for the leadership role. There is a lot of pressure. You have to think about the teammates around you, not just think about your own work. You have to communicate with the team managers. I think I'm well-prepared. I don't feel panic. The fact that the team is all behind me makes it easier. "

For many years, Froome was unable to make his mark in the world of professional cycling and at the end of 2011, he had still not convinced the Sky team enough to be offered a new contract. That all changed when he suddenly finished 2nd at the Vuelta despite working for team leader Wiggins who took 3rd, and he would probably have won, had he raced for himself.

That race was an eye-opener for Froome.

"Until then I lacked the experience and the confidence," he said. "Before that I always felt good until the last climb. I felt I had to attack to get ahead of my rivals and to try to stay away. I did not believe in my own capabilities. During the 2011 Vuelta, I worked for Bradley. This prevented me from attacking. And I realized that I could stay with the best until the end. It changed my motivation and my approach to the races. I learned to make my effort at the right time - with 15-20km to go."

Froome had another eye-opener when he first lined up for the Tour de France as a 23-year old Barloworld rider in 2008.

"I was a neo-pro when I didmy first Tour in 2008," he said. "It opened my eyes. When I started the Tour, I realized that it was much faster than any other race. I realized that I still had a long way to go to be comfortable in a race like this. Every year I learned a lot. In 2011 when I finished second in the Vuelta, it became more concrete. I realized that I was able to fight with the best of the Tour de France."

This year's Tour will only be Froome's third. It starts on Saturday with a road stage in Corsica.