Team Sky fully prepared for GC to heat up
Team Sky were giving little away about their intentions before the Tour de France heads into the Pyrenees this weekend.
Chris Froome took the yellow jersey in these mountains in 2013 and strengthened his grip in 2015 before defending it all the way to Paris, but it remains to be seen if Sky will attempt something similar again - with the difficulty of the third week to come a key factor this year.
Froome will start Friday's 162.5km Stage 7 from L'Isle-Jourdain to Lac de Payolle fifth overall, and five minutes 17 seconds off the overall lead held by BMC's Greg Van Avermaet.
As a Classics specialist, Van Avermaet is not expected to hang on for long, but could get through Friday's test, which features only one minor climb before the category one Col d'Aspin and the descent to the finish.
"I don't think it will be [as decisive as last year's opening mountain stage]," Froome's team-mate Geraint Thomas said.
"It's predominantly flat all day, then a little fourth cat climb and then obviously the Aspin. It's a tough climb but it shouldn't be too selective I don't think."
More challenging is Saturday's stage, which features the mighty Col du Tourmalet as one of four categorised climbs between Pau and Bagneres-de-Luchon, and Sunday's Andorra stage from Vielha Val D'Aran to Andorre Arcalis.
"The day after is harder with four big climbs and it's going to be hot," Thomas added. "I think that could be more selective for sure. Then obviously Andorra is the hardest stage of the race so far.
"For Froomey I think if it's hard like last year it would be nice for him to take time. But every day it's getting tougher and I think that should favour him."
Team principal Sir Dave Brailsford expects the general classification battle to become much clearer in the Pyrenees after a handful of moves were made on Wednesday's stage to Le Lioran.
"The race will change complexion," he said. "Instead of just one (tough) stage, it's a three-day block and you've got to be able to back it up. That will be a big part of performing in the next phase.
"We've done our homework. We know what's coming up, we think we know what potential opportunities there are, but like everything else you've got to feel it on the road.
"Plans are great. Everything committed to paper is great. But a bike race is what happens hour to hour, minute to minute, and you've got to respond to that."