Former world champion Rui Costa (Lampre-Merda) has announced the racing schedule that should allow him to line up at the Tour de France in the best possible condition.

Costa will first target classics success in the Ardennes. He got the campaign off to a good start with a fourth place in the Amstel Gold Race and will now chase a win in Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege. Next week he will line up at the Tour de Romandie where he has finished third three years in a row.

As always, Costa will then take a break from racing but will deviate from his usual schedule when he returns to competitition in June. Despite having written history with three straight wins in the Tour de Suisse, the defending champion won't be back to try to make it four in a row. Instead, he will do the Criterium du Dauphiné as his main preparation for his big goal at the Tour de France.

Last year Costa was forced to leave La Grande Boucle as he was suffering from bronchitis in the second week.