In an exclusive interview with The Examiner, Froome said the Tour’s limited time trial opportunities compared to an enticing 59-kilometre offering in the Giro d’Italia made him seriously consider a dramatic change of schedule.

However, the Brit said he had resolved to target Le Tour, leaving his Tasmanian teammate Richie Porte as the likely candidate to lead Team Sky into the Giro.

Asked what he thought of the 2015 Tour route, Froome said: ‘‘The big stand out is obviously the lack of time trialling, which makes it very much a climber’s race as opposed to an all-round rider’s race.

‘‘In my opinion Grand Tour riding, and the Tour de France especially, should be about the best all-rounder to win that title. That’s always been my view of the Tour.

‘‘So it doesn’t really live up to that, but it’s not up to me to decide the Tour de France route.’’

Next year’s Tour features no individual time trialling after the opening stage of just 14 kilometres in Utrecht, although there is a 28km team time trial into Plumelec on stage nine.

In contrast, the Giro, which begins in May with a 17km team time trial, includes a huge 59km individual race against the clock from Treviso.

‘‘So it’s quite natural for me to look at the Giro as well,’’ Froome said.

‘‘How many opportunities in my career will I get to go for the Giro and next year there’s a 60km flat time trial and multiple mountain-top finishes. That’s a race that really challenges all aspects of cycling so I did have a look at that and think that looks quite appealing.

‘‘But at the moment where I am with my career it makes a lot of sense to be focusing on the Tour and try and fight for that title again.’’

Twice a top six finisher in time trial world championships, Porte agreed with his fellow 29-year-old’s assessment of the Giro, which features nine mountain stages.

‘‘It’s my big opportunity providing I can keep healthy,’’ said Porte, whose 2014 Giro and Tour aspirations were both derailed by illness.

‘‘I know a lot of the mountains from my amateur time in Italy. The 60km time trial is a pretty big opportunity for me to take some good time out of some of these climbers who don’t time trial so well.’’

Froome, who has been introduced to his loyal lieutenant’s native terrain this week, is up for the challenge of next year’s Tour.

‘‘I think it suits me well given the amount of climbing in it,’’ said the 2013 champion.

‘‘I’m happy to get stuck into this new challenge of having to be better in the climbs.

‘‘It’s not as if I rely on my time trialling to win races. I’ve won a lot of mountain-top finishes in the last couple of years. That’s the goal now to get back into that kind of form to challenge again for the yellow jersey.’’