The best rider on GC from the RadioShack-Nissan team is the Spaniard who finished fifth overall in the Tour of 2003, Haimar Zubeldia. He is ranked seventh before today's race and he carries the hopes of the squad that is leading the team classification by 14'05” (over Sky).
His sports director, Alain Gallopin, told LeTour.fr this morning that he feared the loss of eight to 10 minutes against Team Sky today.
The Spanish rider should not be challenged by any rider behind him on GC but he may well aim to improve his ranking: Cadel Evans is currently ranked sixth and the winner of the Tour in 2011 is only 14” ahead of him after 18 stages.