Tom Dumoulin who had a great 2015 season, has been known as a time trial specialist. But with his performance at the Vuelta a Espana, the Dutch rider has the characteristics to be a leader in three-week races. He is till convinced he will be able to win a Grand Tour. But in 2016, his main goal will be the Olympic event.

"Rio is my main focus," he tells Cycling Weekly. "It’s difficult to say how the approach in the rest of the season will be, but I’ll definitely need to be 100 per cent in Rio and possibly be 100 per cent in the other parts of the year. Maybe it’s possible to be 100 per cent in a Grand Tour and 100 per cent in Rio."

"I really want to keep my TT as my main focus — my main weapon," he adds. "If being a Grand Tour rider means losing my capability of riding a good TT, then maybe I won’t do it. It’s about looking for the right balance between power and weight."

In 2016 Dumoulin could race a Grand Tour, but he might also avoid the stressful GC fight. Sky general manager Dave Brailsford would regret such a decision. "Everyone can see that he’s a very good time triallist. He’s been good for a long time, but when you can take that time trail ability and use it to go uphill you become a very potent force in stage racing."