Aussie veteran Cadel Evans is content with the fact that most of the focus before this year's defence of his Tour title is on Team Sky's Bradley Wiggins.
Olympic champion Wiggins has been the form horse this season and, with Andy Schleck's absence through injury, the cycling world has talked him up as a potential winner.
Evans finally silenced his critics last year by defeating Schleck on the back of a heroic Tour that saw him emerge from the peloton's shadows.
The BMC leader is now quietly going about his preparations for next Saturday's start, while his rivals plan how they are going to dethrone the king.
He can also count on the likes of Belgian powerhouse Philippe Gilbert, along with class acts Tejay van Garderen and Stephen Cummings, thanks to off-season moves.
With Wiggins winning Paris-Nice, Tour de Romandie and Critérium du Dauphiné, the 35-year-old revealed, "The only thing that has changed mainly has been the level that Team Sky has come to.
"At this point if they hold that level, they’ll have the numbers when it comes down to 20 guys but let’s see what happens when it comes down to five or 10.
"The main thing for most riders is just getting to a good level, a level you know you need to be at to race - avoiding injuries, health issues and so on.
"This year it's been a good progression for me into the Tour and in some ways, not having some race results, it keeps people's attention away from me. That also helps make life a little bit easier."
Evans, who will also be wary of Samuel Sanchez, Denis Menchov and Frank Schleck, added about the route, "There are a few surprises along the way. The Tour organisers seem to have liked adding these in over the last few years - when we get to them, we'll see."
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