After yesterday's presentation of the course for the 2014 Tour de France, the main contenders have started to find out how to best prepare for the big event. Having already raced Paris-Roubaix once in his career, Chris Froome plans to do a reconnaissance on the pavés but he won't ride any of the cobbled classics.

When the course for the 2014 Tour de France was announced yesterday, the stage that drew most attention was the one that includes 9 of the famous pavé sectors known from the Paris-Roubaix. While the stage won't be one to win the Tour, the rough surface certainly has the potential to crush all hopes of overall victory for the main contenders. That was the case in 2004 and 2010 when Iban Mayo and Frank Schleck had their hopes dashed in Northern France.

To race on cobbles is a difficult specialty that requires plenty of practice and unlike the riders that usually do the Paris-Roubaix, the GC riders in the grand tours have little experience on the pavés. Hence, they have all started to find out how to best prepare for the big battle on July 9.

Prior to the 2010 edition of the race, Lance Armstrong did the Tour of Flanders to prepare for the Tour de France and yesterday Astana manager Giuseppe Martinelli said that Vincenzo Nibali may have a similar approach. However, the race's big favourite Chris Froome doesn't plan to do any racing on the cobbles during the spring season.

"The situation is uncontrollable on the cobbles," Sky principal Dave Brailsfold told L'Equipe. "Of course we will organize a reconnaissance in Northern France and Bradley [Wiggins] could perhaps do Paris-Roubaix. Chris is not going to race in Northern France or Belgium."

"Don't forget that Chris rode the mountain bike race at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006," he told Cyclingnews. "He's a mountain biker of decent level, and he's ridden Paris-Roubaix in the past too. A 'classic-style' stage in a Grand Tour is nothing like a one-day race. Not at all, they're two very different things."

Brailsford explained that he expects riders like Geraint Thomas, Edvald Boasson Hagen and Bradley Wiggins (who has raced several editions of Paris-Roubaix in the past) to be able to support Froome on the pavé. In 2010, the Schleck brothers complained that it was too dangerous to include cobbles in the most important race on the calendar but Brailsford disagrees.

"I don't think it's too dangerous, otherwise we wouldn't do Paris-Roubaix, would we? So why not put it in a Grand Tour?" he said. "Of course, there's the risk of a puncture and crash, but it's the same for everyone. A race is a race and it's up to us to prepare as best we can."

Froome himself shared his boss' approach.

"I will do no races on the pavés next year but I'll do them in training, " he told L'Equipe. It will be very interesting to find out what kind of conditions we face. Are they like Arenberg or not?"

Froome did the Paris-Roubaix once in 2008 while riding for Barloworld.

"I think I abandoned at the second feed zone. I had a domestique role, was giving wheels to my teammates. I cannot say if I'm good on the pavé. I have only raced on them twice. I will prepare for it and this year I was elected Frandrien of the year, so I have a reputation to protect," he added with a smile.

Next year's course only contains one time trial which has been seen as a disadvantage for Froome who is - by far - the best time trialist among the GC contenders. However, Brailsford is unconcerned by the lack of stages in the individual discipline.

"If he's on the same form as this year, Chris can be as good a climber as anybody, so the mountains are an advantage to u," he told Cyclingnews. "But it is a long time trial [54km], and there'll be some big gaps as fatigue will be an issue. You need to get there in good shape. Everybody will be looking for enough time to take to the time trial, so people are going to have to go on the offensive and that will make for a great race."

Last year Sky tried to win both the Giro and the Tour but faced criticism for its lack of strength in the Tour. Brailsford admits that it may be necessary to fully focus on the Tour in 2014 - despite Richie Porte having shown interest in trying to win the Giro.

"This year, we wanted to have a good Giro and a good Tour de France, but perhaps next year, that might be different," he said. "Maybe we'll go and do more races in the United States for instance. We have a big US partner [21st Century Fox], so that might change our strategy, but it's all to be decided.

"Maybe by creating two Grand Tour teams this year, we diluted the team a little bit. Maybe we'll put all of our best riders in the Tour team. But we don't know yet, it's not even November yet."