Gallery: Tour de France teams train in Liege

The 2012 Tour de France kicks off on Saturday in Liege, Belgium, with a 6.4km prologue time trial and with the start only days away the 22 teams competing in the French Grand Tour have arrived on site.

The Grand Boucle rightly attracts a swarm of media attention for the participants and today several of the big names of professional cycling, including defending Tour champion Cadel Evans, pre-race favourite Bradley Wiggins plus teammate and world champion Mark Cavendish, as well as sprinter and 2011 Tour stage winner Andre Greipel, took part in training rides with their respective BMC, Sky and Lotto Belisol teammates with photographers in tow.

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1