The Tour de France, cycling's most prestigious event, begins Saturday with 189 riders, only two of whom are considered to have a chance for the title.
They are three-time defending champion Miguel Indurain of Spain and Tony Rominger of Switzerland.World champion Lance Armstrong of the United States, who last year at 21 became the youngest rider to win a state in the Tour de France, has been slowed by the after-effects on an insect bite on a leg. He is not considered a threat for the ovberall title, but is expected to challenge for stage victories.
A 4.3-mile sprint from the Grand Palais in Lille to the business complex of Euralille begins the 81st Tour. The race ends July 24 at Paris after covering a course of 2,467 miles.
The first full stage is Sunday, 142 miles from Lille to Armentieres.
Indurain, solid in winning the Tour de France the past three years, has faltered a little this year, placing third in the Tour of Italy. But he said he would be ready for the Tour de France.
"The Tour is a completely different story, nothing like Italy," Indurain said following his defeat.