Luxembourger Andy Schleck marked Ivan Basso as Tour de France rival number one for July. His former nemesis, Alberto Contador will likely miss the race due doping suspension.
"He has class, experience, works like no other and is improving at the Tour, twice already on the podium," Schleck told Italian newspaper, La Stampa. "He will be the opponent most marked."
Basso won the Giro d'Italia last year and in 2006. He has finished on the podium twice at the Tour de France, third in 2004 and second in 2005, and this year, he wants to aim for the win. He will likely skip the Giro in May and let Liquigas-Cannondale team-mate Vincenzo Nibali lead.
Schleck will be the favourite at the Tour de France, though. He finished second the last two years, both times to Spain's Contador. Contador, however, will likely lose his third title from last year and serve a doping suspension for failing a doping test at the race.
Last year's yellow jersey and trophy may end up at Schleck's home.
"I have not thought of yet," said Schleck. "I wanted to win the Tour on the road by beating Alberto. And maybe I would have succeeded, without the mechanical incident last year. Winning like this, though, is not the best.
"I still hope that Alberto can prove his innocence and can race the next Tour, where I would like to beat him."
Contador tested positive for 50 picograms of Clenbuterol on the Tour de France's second rest day, July 21, in Pau. After he won the race – 39 seconds ahead of Schleck – the International Cycling Union (UCI) revealed the results.
Schleck and his brother Fränk will lead new Luxembourg team, Leopard Trek. Besides the Tour, Andy Schleck will aim for the Ardennes Classics.
"Before, I will aim for Amstel Gold, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and also Flèche Wallonne. But the Tour is the Tour.
"Milano-Sanremo? It's not made for me, too fast and too dangerous. The Giro? Sooner or later I will, but this year I will aim for the Tour. I am still too young to aim for two major stage races in a row."
To prepare for the season, Schleck has worked in the gym and has gained weight.
"I worked more on strength and power, with rides not as long, but more intense, also doing a lot at the gym. That's why I got three kilos of weight, I hope it's muscles. I also have corrected my position on the bike for time trials."
Andy and Fränk will make their race debut at the Mallorca Challenge in February. Their next race will be the Ruta del Sol stage race in southern Spain.