Even though 101st edition of the Tour de France is expected to be a two-man battle between Chris Froome (Team Sky) and Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo), Vincenzo Nibali and Astana team still believe that the former Vuelta a Espana and Giro d’Italia champion would be able to fight for the glory in the French three-week event.

While Contador enjoyed a nearly perfect spring emphasized by two victories alongside three runner-up spots in key stage races and Froome, despite several blows, made it clear that he will be ready for the title defense in June, still winless Nibali tries to fine-tone his disposition in the Italian mountains.

Attending the Astana training camp in Dolomites alongside his seven team-mates, the 29-year old Italian is undergoing high-intensity preparations for the Tour, and Paolo Slongo expects the rider to hit the top disposition right for the most decisive stages of the French grand tour.

"They're already at their best and can't improve anymore," Slongo said about Contador and Froome, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Nibali has to reach 100% during the first week of the Tour de France, there's still a month until the key mountain stages of the Tour. I would have been worried if Nibali had been at his best at the Dauphine."

"Now's the time to do the high-intensity work, to give him what he needs. He's already recovered 10 watts at his threshold but he's still got some high-intensity work to do." 

The Astana team stays at the Rifugio Flora Alpina at the altitude of 1900m during the training camp and they’re doing most of their workouts on the Valparola, Pordoi and San Pellegrino climbs. Nibali is expected to undergo his final preparations for the Tour in the dolomited before participating in the Italian national championships, both the time trial and road race.

"We simulate the finale of races and the attacks. I often tell Vincenzo: 'I'm Froome, come and get me,'" Slongo explained.

"The workouts last between 10-15 minutes, divided into jumps and accelerations. I accelerate every minute and then when I blow the horn, Vincenzo goes. Just like in a race, he's got to catch me and go past me."

Astana’s coach, Slongo, has also revealed that he studied performances of biggest Tour de France title contenders very closely, especially after their latest showing at the Criterium du Dauphine.

"I've studied his accelerations, how long they last and his cadence," he claimed.

"Froome weighed between 65-66kg at the Dauphine, Contador was 63kg. They produced about 400-410 watts at threshold and when they attack, they can hold 430 watts for between 20-30 minutes. Froome accelerates for 20-30 seconds, with peaks of 450-480 wats. The he eases back and stays at 380-400 watts. Due to physiological limits, this phase can last between 10-15 minutes, not more."

Despite being yet to win a race in 2014 season, Nibali managed to build enough confidence to believe in his chances to challenge Froome and Contador in July.

"At the Dauphine Froome looked us in the eye and was determined to drop us," Nibali revealed.

"I managed to limit my losses pretty well, especially considering that I hadn't really done any high-end work and didn’t want to go too deep into the red. I'm confident, I can only get better."