No longer tied to a supporting role at CSC, Carlos Sastre may finally have a chance to prove he can compete for a podium place rather than just a top-10 finish.

An excellent climber, the Spaniard has worked hard on his weak time-trialling in recent years to transform himself into a rider capable of winning the Tour.

If the 32-year-old can harness the firepower of his team, one of the strongest in the race, he stands a good chance of at least making the top three in Paris.

But Sastre's relatively weak skills against the clock will probably prevent him from winning.