Pogačar, 22, ousted Roglič from the yellow jersey lead on the last day of competitive racing to take the overall lead in the most famous cycling race in the world, as he triumphed in the Tour de France.

Roglič then bounced back with a win at Liège-Bastogne-Liège in Belgium ahead of Pogačar a few weeks later in the one-day race.

Both appeared to be in strong form, particularly Pogačar.

The UAE Team Emirates rider won back-to-back WorldTour races at the UAE Tour and the Tirreno-Adriatico, while Roglič was close to winning the Paris-Nice, but crashed twice on the final stage which dropped him down the general classification.

However, there are other contenders aside from the Slovenians - including Ecuador's Richard Carapaz of Ineos Grenadiers and Britain's Hugh Carthy of EF Education-Nippo.

Both riders finished on the podium at the 2020 Vuelta a España behind Roglič and have impressed since cycling's return after the COVID-19 hiatus.

Paris-Nice winner, Germany's Max Schachmann of Bora-Hansgrohe, won three stages in the 2019 edition of the Tour of the Basque Country and will fancy his chances of a strong campaign again.

Other in-form riders include Britain's Adam Yates of Ineos Grenadiers who won the last stage in the 2019 race and home favourite Mikel Landa of Bahrain Victorious, who recently finished third at the Tirreno-Adriatico.

Tomorrow is the first stage of six - a 13.9-kilometre time trial in Bilbao.

The Tour is scheduled to finish on April 10 with a 111.9km mountain stage, ending in Arrate in Eibar.