Britain’s Thomas will be hoping for a repeat of the 2018 Critérium du Dauphiné, where he emerged as the winner before earning a maiden Tour de France crown in the summer.

He is expected to lead Ineos Grenadiers at the race, but 2020 Tour de France podium finisher Porte and last year’s Giro d’Italia winner Geoghegan Hart could emerge as potential leaders throughout the stage race.

Thomas heads into the race fresh from winning the Tour de Romandie earlier this month.

The race could offer an insight into the form of Britain’s Chris Froome, who is the joint record winner of the race with three victories.

Froome will be returning to the race which saw his career threatened, with the British rider having sustained serious injuries in a crash when preparing for the fourth stage of the event in 2019.

His injuries included a fractured right femur, as well as fractures to his elbow and ribs.

Froome left Ineos Grenadiers last year and has been seeking form at his new team Israel Start-Up Nation this year, with the four-time Tour de France winner still convinced he can challenge at the top level of the sport.

Colombia’s Nairo Quintana and Miguel Angel Lopez will expect to challenge in the general classification, with the pair leading Arkéa-Samsic and Movistar respectively.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour race will not feature Slovenian stars Tadej Pogačar and Primož Roglič.

Reigning Tour de France champion Pogačar is due to compete at the Tour of Slovenia, while Roglič will continue training for the Grand Tour.

Racing will begin tomorrow with a flat 182-kilometre stage beginning and ending in Issoire.

An individual time trial is planned on stage four, while stages seven and eight will likely see the general classification decided with two mountainous routes.