With strong Classics riders like Sep Vanmarcke and Lars Boom, it is not hard to see why Bauke Mollema is looking forward to the Tour de France’s cobbled stage. It is here where he will look to take some time on the likes of Froome, Contador and Nibali.

"I hope to take time on a lot of guys there, we have a really strong team for that stage," he said at the pre-race press conference on Friday. "When you look at the riders here, Sep and Lars (Boom), and also the other riders who did Paris-Roubaix, we have a really strong team for that stage. For sure it will be really nervous with a lot of crashes, but I have a lot of confidence in this team that we can not only survive that stage, but also make time."

Mollema is on form after a great Tour de Suisse, but despite following an identical program to last year, he doesn’t have as much hope as in 2013 of winning the world’s biggest race.

"It's not that easy in cycling. We just focus on the Tour and on every stage. We have to go full every stage and then we will see what happens," he said.

"I think it is harder this year than last year, more uphill finishes. The first week is really hard already with Sunday's stage and the cobbles stage. Next weekend there will be more hard stages and the Alps and the Pyrenees still have to come. I think it's harder than last year, but that suits me well and I hope to do better than last year."

But Belkin, whose title sponsor is pulling out at the end of the season, badly need their star man to put on a great showing in order to secure a sponsor who will keep the team alive. Mollema too could do with a good race in order to secure a big money move elsewhere should Belkin fail to continue.

"For me it doesn't change much, I knew that my contract was ending this year in December," he explained. "I am not thinking about it too much. Of course, it is in the back of your mind and it was really bad news when Belkin pulled out a few weeks ago. I think that we, as riders, need to focus on the Tour at the moment."