Jakob Fuglsang goes into the Tour de France as a key domestique for Vincenzo Nibali after having ridden last year's race as captain. The Dane claims to be better than last year and still hopes that he will get the chance to lead Astana in a future grand tour.

Last year Jakob Fuglsang got the chance to lead Astana in the Tour de France. The Dane did a consistent race to finish 7th overall, his best result in a grand tour.

This year he has travelled to the grand depart in Leeds with a different focus. This time Vincenzo Nibali is the team captain and Fuglsang goes into the race as a domestique. Nonetheless, he doesn't rule out the opportunity of riding for GC himself or chasing a stage win.

First and foremost he is in the race to support his captain and despite having only been teammates for 6 months, their relationship is splendid.

"Nibali and I have a good understanding both on and off the bike," he told CyclingQuotes in Leeds. "We have no problems. He respects me, that's clear. Earlier in our careers we have been racing against each other so he knows all about my qualities. I am the same kind of rider as him. Maybe he is one step further ahead in jis development and one notch better than me but he respescts me a lot."

The team hasn't planned its tactics yet.

"Everything can go wrong before you have even started," Fuglsang said. "The first week will be hectic and hopefully we will survive without too many problems. It is difficult to tactics for the mountains already now.

"I think I am stronger than last year but it is hard to say. Maybe the others have also improved. But I think that I am riding better and I also feel that I have become stronger."

Fuglsang has done nothing to hide that he would like to get his chance to lead the team in future grand tours. However, it won't be in this year's Vuelta.

"I won't do the Vuelta," he said. "Last year I did it and it was too much to do two grand tours in a row. Of course it depends on how I finish the Tour but in any case my preparations won't be optimal.

"Of course I hope to do the Giro, Tour or Vuelta as captain in 2015. We'll have to see how things are next year. Obviously we have a strong team with both Vincenzo and Aru."