Normally you’d expect the defending World Tour winner to aim for overall victory in every single race but, rather unusually, Joaquím Rodriguez (Katusha) took to the start line of the Critérium du Dauphiné in Champéry, Switzerland, yesterday with the sole intention of using the week long French stage race as a warm up race for something bigger.

Rodriguez hasn’t been racing since the Liège-Bastogne-Liège where he came second behind Dan Martin (Garmin-Sharp).

"For once, I don't come to a race with the aim of winning, I don't have the legs for that," the Spaniard told Cyclingnews.com prior to the beginning of the first stage.

"I like the Dauphiné," 'Purito' added. "When I discovered this race two years ago, I kind of regretted that I didn't take part in it earlier in my career because the terrain suits me very much with uphill finishes in the Alps. But in the past, I've had different programs; I've often done the Giro and not the Tour."

Two years ago, coming straight off the Giro d’Italia, Rodriguez won two mountainous stages at the Dauphiné. The race was included in his itinerary as the closing chapter of his spring campaign. This year, though, Rodriguez and his Katusha employers have elected an alternative strategy. Since the Liège-Bastogne-Liège six weeks ago, Rodriguez, like compatriot Alberto Contador (Saxo-Tinkoff), has opted to steer clear of competitive racing while focusing on high altitude training in Andorra where he resides. For the past years Rodriguez has been focusing on being the most consistent rider throughout the entire season rather than handpicking a few select races to aim for. This strategy saw him win the World Tour in 2010 and 2012.

This year, however, the strategy has been changed to focus on the Tour de France.

"I don't have many years left, so it's the right time to give it all for the Tour de France," he said. "This year's Tour looks very good for me on paper," he added. "I would have loved to be at my best for the Dauphiné. Looking at the route and the riders in contention, it's obvious that great battles can be done here. But I'm not on form yet. I want to be on form at the right time for the Tour de France."