Tom Boonen is in Monaco hoping to be allowed to start Le Tour.
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(L-R) Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme, Belgian cycling legend Eddy Merckx, Prince Albert of Monaco and French cycling legend Bernard Hinault in Monaco.
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Five-time Tour de France champion Eddy Merckx (L) with Prince Albert of Monaco.
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Denis Menchov (Rabobank), 2009 Giro d'Italia champion, prepares for a training ride in Monaco.
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Silence-Lotto's Greg Van Avermaet and Staf Scheirlinckx (L-R) in their team hotel.
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Tom Boonen, Belgian national champion, rides with his Quick Step teammates. Boonen awaits confirmation of whether he'll be permitted to start the Tour on Saturday.
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Oscar Freire (Rabobank) is ready to defend his Tour de France green jersey.
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Silence-Lotto's Sebastian Lang (L) speaks to teammate Philippe Gilbert in the team's hotel lobby. Gilbert resides in Monaco but is not part of Silence-Lotto's Tour de France squad.
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Tom Boonen, the new Belgian national champion, and Quick Step teammate Allan Davis in Monaco.
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Silence-Lotto's Cadel Evans, Matthew Lloyd, Staf Scheirlinckx and Mickael Delage (L-R) are ready to ride.
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Quick Step teammates Jerome Pineau (L) and Allan Davis get ready to ride.
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Lampre-NGC team members at their hotel in Monaco.
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Belgian national champion Tom Boonen and his Quick Step teammates out on a training ride.
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Monaco is the site of the Tour de France's first stage on July 4.
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Lance Armstrong in front of his team hotel prior to a training ride.
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Lance Armstrong and his Astana teammates ride in Monaco.
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Fumiyuki Beppu (Skil-Shimano) signs an autograph.
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2007 Tour de France champion Alberto Contador (Astana) speaks to the press.
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Astana riders take in Monaco prior to Saturday's Tour de France start.
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World champion Alessandro Ballan (Lampre-NGC) flexes for the camera.
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Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Slipstream) about to depart on a training ride with his team.
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Australia's Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) prior to a team training ride.
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Giro d'Italia champion Denis Menchov (Rabobank) prepares for a ride outside his team hotel.
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Green jersey contender Oscar Freire (Rabobank) makes an adjustment to his saddle before a training ride.
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Team buses are parked along the harbor in Monaco.
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An Astana mechanic begins assembly of Lance Armstrong's time trial bike.
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Frank Schleck and team manager Bjarne Riis take part in a Team Saxo Bank training ride
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Fabien Cancellara (L) and Andy Schleck lead their Saxo Bank teammates on a ride in Monaco.
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Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) at a pre-Tour press conference in Monaco.
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Astana team members on a training ride in Monaco.
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Lance Armstrong takes a spin through Monaco, site of the Tour de France's first stage on July 4.
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Frank Schleck (Team Saxo Bank) speaks to the press in Monaco.
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Team Saxo Bank at a pre-Tour de France press conference: (L-R) team manager Bjarne Riis, Andy Schleck, Fabien Cancellara and Kurt-Asle Arvensen.
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Agritubel's Christophe Moreau is lining up for another Tour.
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Cadel Evans is sporting some funky colours on his Canyon.
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Carlos Sastre in the special edition kit - and doesn't he look every bit the defending champ?
(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Monaco makes a spectacular setting for the biggest Tour de France in years.
(Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
A Saxo Bank trio - (l-r): Andy Schleck, Kurt-Asle Arvesen and Fabian Cancellara.
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Alberto Contador - will he be Astana's number one? We'll soon find out.
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Christian Prudhomme greets Prince Albert of Monaco on the presentation stage.
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Mark Cavendish looking suitably cool given that he's in Monaco.
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Alessandro Ballan rides on stage at the presentation.
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Alberto Contador and (l) and Lance Armstrong line up for Astana.
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A smiling Denis Menchov is acknowledged as Rabobank is presented.
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Hey folks, I'm back... in F.R.A.N.C.E. Lance Armstrong waves to the crowd at the presentation.
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Bernard Hinault, Prince Albert and Eddy Merckx out for a ride in Monaco.
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Alberto Contador and Lance Armstrong (Astana)
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Alberto Contador (Astana)
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The yachts, the high-rise apartments, the beautiful people... It must be Monaco.
The principality played host to the Tour de France teams presentation yesterday and the anticipated colour, glitz and glamour - normally associated with the Formula 1 set - was a part of le Tour. As Lance Armstrong and Alberto stood side-by-side as teammates, speculation continued as to who will be riding for who in this year's race.
The Saxo Bank boys made a happy crew on stage while Carlos Sastre debuted Cervelo's new kit. Likewise the Team Columbia boys, who sported green highlights on their updated uniform, reflecting the signing of mobile telephone manufacturer HTC as a co-sponsor during the week.
