"The only comment that comes to mind is that we should have been three" - Stefan Küng laments Gino Mäder's absence from Tour de France

Stefan Küng is one of the two Swiss riders at the start of this year's Tour de France alongside Silvan Dillier, however on the eve of the Grand Depart he was reminded that there were initially meant to be one more compatriot at the start line.

"I was obviously not 100% focused on this Tour de France or the competition. It took me a few days to digest a little," Küng said in an interview with 24 Heures regarding the passing of his friend Gino Mäder, who lost his life in the Tour de Suisse - where Küng won the final time-trial. "Even with the risks, I sign immediately to continue doing what I do. That's what we love, it's our passion, our life."

"The only comment that comes to mind is that we should have been three, with Gino," Küng adds. The national championships' time-trial race was postponed for later in the year because of the accident which took place, and Bahrain - Victorious have also left available the number 61 bib, in tribute to the Swiss rider.

As for his own ambitions, after coming up short of a victory in the Giro d'Italia, he comes hungry for success towards the Tour. "Do everything to protect David [Gaudu] because we have ambitions in general [classification," and "seize an opportunity in the second or third week," he says.