Geraint Thomas says he is “on track” to challenge for a second straight Tour de France title this year.
Thomas started his Tour preparations later than for last year’s win and said in February he would miss May’s Giro d’Italia to be “in the best shape possible” for July’s Tour.
“I’d love to win it again, but I’m not going to be thinking ‘I need to win’,” said the Welshman, 32.
“I’m not far off what shape I was in last year. I know what I’ve got to do.”
After becoming just the third Briton to win the Tour – after Chris Froome and Bradley Wiggins – Thomas started winter training towards the end of November, three weeks later than the previous year.