Despite the Tour de France starting in his native Holland this year, Etixx-QuickStep rider Niki Terpstra has confirmed he wont be riding the Tour de France this year.

He told the Etixx-Quick Step website: “Together with the team we decided that I will not take the start at Le Tour."

“This year my programme is a little different than usual. It was a difficult decision because with the start in Holland, as a Dutch rider, it would have been something special to be riding on what I consider to be home roads. But sometimes you have to make choices to find the right programme."

“I will be riding the Eneco Tour, and after that we will see what my programme is for the rest of the season.”

It is believed that he will be co-leader of the Dutch team at the Worlds with Lars Boom and may prepare to peak for then instead of the Tour.