New Team Sky recruit Nicolas Roche can’t wait to help Chris Froome get one over on his former teammate Alberto Contador at this year’s Tour de France.

The Irishman swapped Tinkoff-Saxo for Team Sky in the offseason and has already spoken of his keenness to play the role of super-domestique for his new team leader.

In an interview with Sky Sports, Roche calls Froome and Contador two of the great rivals of this generation and admits he’s already shared some of the Spaniard’s secrets to Froome.

“I have a good feeling about this year. I feel I could be very useful as a top team-mate with Chris in the Tour. It could be an exciting role,” he said.

“They [Froome and Contador] are definitely two of the greatest rivals of the last few years and I cannot see this year being very different. We cannot forget [Nairo] Quintana and [Alejandro] Valverde and [Vincenzo] Nibali and Purito [Joaquim Rodriguez] and all of these riders as well, but the big show is between these two guys I think.”

He added: “Alberto is someone who looks into every single detail and I was impressed with his professionalism.

“I never expected him to be not professional but he is someone who goes into the smallest details.”

Contador will attempt to win both the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France this year, while Froome has focused his efforts solely on the latter Grand Tour.