Richie Porte has been a member of both the 2012 and 2013 Tour de France-winning teams at Sky and he believes that winning the 2014 edition of the world’s biggest race is the team’s biggest challenge in their short existence.

“Obviously we’ve won the last two and we’re going with Chris in good form, so it’s exciting. I know that it’s not going to be easy, but then more personally for me I’m in good shape and I’m looking forward to getting to Yorkshire and starting the race,” Porte told Cyclingnews.

“I think it’s going to be harder to win this year than it was last year. There’s a better Alberto Contador this year and Chris had that crash at Dauphiné, which wasn’t good for him but he’s back where he needs to be and in good shape.”

“At the start of the Dauphiné he won the first two stages quite convincingly. The crash he had did take it out of him. He realised that it wasn’t going to be possible to win Dauphiné at that point but in training he’s quite impressive. He’s ready.”

Porte has struggled so far this year with illness, but he is beginning to come good at the most important time of year for Sky and defending Tour champion Chris Froome.

“I was in good form and then I had gastro and wasn’t able to start the next day," Porte said of his Tirreno-Adriatico abandon. "Then I got sick and I had issues with my set up on my bike, things that shouldn’t have happened, and it’s not been easy but the team has been good with me and we’ve chipped away at the problems. I’m in a good place. I’m where I need to be.”

"I think for us this year, it’s no questions asked a stronger team. I would have been nice to have had Sergio (Henao) and Stannard. A lot has been said about other riders not making the squad but for us last year Stannard was bulletproof. That’s a big loss but we’ve got guys like Pate, Eisel and Zandio so it’s a strong climbing team and a strong team for the flats. It’s a really versatile team.”