But team boss Giuseppe Saronni has turned around the team set-up, bringing in two major players in Pavel Tonkov and Raimondas Rumsas.

That double signing continues the team's eastern European influence, Tonkov hailing from Russia and Rumsas from Lithuania.

Both riders have tended to be kept apart in major races this season so it remains to be seen who will be the key figure in Le Tour.

Rumsas looks the stronger bet and a top-five finish remains a realistic goal.

Former Giro winner Tonkov has already achieved major success for the team since moving from Mercury.

He was fifth in this year's Giro d'Italia, one place behind Juan Manuel Garate, the team's Spanish rider and another key aspect in their Tour bid.

Three contenders for this year's race makes a great difference to the previous one.

Former team leader Frank Vandenbroucke abandoned the race for a second year.

Aside from the major contenders, the team also boast a powerful sprinter in Jan Svorada.