Team Sky know La Planche des Belles Filles perfectly, having won there with Chris Froome in 2012 on a day when Bradley Wiggins also took the yellow jersey.

"It's a stage we know well for sure. I was the day when all the work Team Sky did came into place," said sports director Nicolas Portal to Letour.fr

"But today, it's a very different stage. It's like a real mountain stage in the Alps or the Pyrenees," he said.

Without title-holder Chris Froome, Sky now pin their hopes on Australian Richie Porte. Richie Porte won the Paris-Nice last year showing he is capable off wining one of the biggest stage races.

"We have trust in Richie. He was extremely good on the Tour two years ago and also did great things last year. Moreover we are now relaxed in an outsider position," Portal said. 

Also in an outsider position, Frenchman Pierre Rolland made up for lost time on the road to Mulhouse yesterday by making it back into the top ten overall.

"We set fire to the race yesterday and we're going to do it again today," said team director Dominique Arnould.

"For Pierre, we need to see whether he has the same legs he had in the Giro. But he's well and very strong mentally."