Solide Albion”declared L’Équipe’s headline the day after Mark Cavendish had added his fourth stage win to those already taken by compatriots Steve Cummings and Chris Froome over the Tour’s opening 14 stages. Just as remarkable as that stat, though, was the zero that comprised the total number of successes taken by France, Italy and Spain, for so long stage racing powerhouses.

Add in Tom Dumoulin’s two wins, one each for Greg Van Avermaet, Marcel Kittel and Thomas De Gendt, and the pickings were very slim indeed for the traditional powers. Of the three, the home nation’s lack of success was the most surprising, and not only because it fielded the largest number of starters.