After his fourth place in last year's Giro d'Italia, Pierre Rolland (Europcar) had hoped to fight for the podium in the Tour de France. However, he has now changed his plans after he lost time in the crosswinds and on the cobbles.

"I will shelve my GC ambitions," he said according to a report by 100% Velo. "To be in the top one must be as complete as possible. I have prepared for the Tour for 6 months  in order to get a good result overall. In four days, I have to forget everything. But I do not lose my morale. I did not represent a great danger before the race, now I do not represent a danger at all."

Rolland is known for his long-distance attacks in the mountains and the mountains jersey has been a goal for him in the past.