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Stars past and present in Paris for Tour de France 2019 presentation - Gallery

Froome, Cavendish, Merckx, Hinault and others take to the stage in the Palais des Congres

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Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas take their seats

Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas take their seats
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Chris Froome listens to the presentation via an audio translation

Chris Froome listens to the presentation via an audio translation
(Image credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Sport)
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The 2019 Tour de France celebrates the 100 anniversary of the yellow jersey

The 2019 Tour de France celebrates the 100 anniversary of the yellow jersey
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Eddy Merckx shows Greg van Avermaet how to dress for a Tour de France presentation

Eddy Merckx shows Greg van Avermaet how to dress for a Tour de France presentation
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Tour de France race director Christian Prudhomme speaks below the map of the 2019 race route

Tour de France race director Christian Prudhomme speaks below the map of the 2019 race route
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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2018 Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas

2018 Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault enjoy a joke

Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault enjoy a joke
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Christian Prudhomme presents the 2019 Tour de France route

Christian Prudhomme presents the 2019 Tour de France route
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Tour de France race director Christian Prudhomme presents the 2019 race route

Tour de France race director Christian Prudhomme presents the 2019 race route
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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The five-time Tour de France winners and Raymond Poulidor on stage

The five-time Tour de France winners and Raymond Poulidor on stage
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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The riders watch on as the route is unveiled

The riders watch on as the route is unveiled
(Image credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Sport)
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Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas walks onto the stage

Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas walks onto the stage
(Image credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Sport)
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Greg Van Avermaet walks onto the stage

Greg Van Avermaet walks onto the stage
(Image credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Sport)
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A word from Eddy Merckx, whose first Tour victory is being celebrated with a Grand Départ in Brussels on the 50th anniversary

A word from Eddy Merckx, whose first Tour victory is being celebrated with a Grand Départ in Brussels on the 50th anniversary
(Image credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Sport)
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Mark Cavendish walks onto the stage

Mark Cavendish walks onto the stage
(Image credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Sport)
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Raymond Poulidor and Eddy Merckx

Raymond Poulidor and Eddy Merckx
(Image credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Sport)
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Chris Froome watches on

Chris Froome watches on
(Image credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Sport)
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The riders await the big reveal

The riders await the big reveal
(Image credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Sport)
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Primoz Roglic watches on

Primoz Roglic watches on
(Image credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Sport)
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(Image credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Sport)
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Fellow Belgians Eddy Merckx and Greg Van Avermaet

Fellow Belgians Eddy Merckx and Greg Van Avermaet
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Christian Prudhomme on stage with Eddy Merckx, who is being celebrated with the Brussels Grand Départ

Christian Prudhomme on stage with Eddy Merckx, who is being celebrated with the Brussels Grand Départ
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Eddy Merckx and fellow five-time champion Bernard Hinault on stage

Eddy Merckx and fellow five-time champion Bernard Hinault on stage
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Geraint Thomas waves to the crowd

Geraint Thomas waves to the crowd
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Chris Froome on stage

Chris Froome on stage
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Belgian rider Tiesj Benoot walks onto the stage

Belgian rider Tiesj Benoot walks onto the stage
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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2018 King of the Mountains Julian Alaphilippe walks onto the stage

2018 King of the Mountains Julian Alaphilippe walks onto the stage
(Image credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Sport)
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A full house in the Palais des Congres

A full house in the Palais des Congres
(Image credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Sport)
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A joke is exchanged between teammates Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas

A joke is exchanged between teammates Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas
(Image credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Sport)
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Four-time Tour champion Chris Froome on the stage

Four-time Tour champion Chris Froome on the stage
(Image credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Sport)
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Geraint Thomas walks onto the stage

Geraint Thomas walks onto the stage
(Image credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Sport)
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Chris Froome walks onto the stage

Chris Froome walks onto the stage
(Image credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Sport)
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Frenchmen Julian Alaphilippe and Pierre Latour

Frenchmen Julian Alaphilippe and Pierre Latour
(Image credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Sport)
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Christian Prudhomme called for a ban on power meters to make the race more exciting

Christian Prudhomme called for a ban on power meters to make the race more exciting
(Image credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Sport)
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French sprinter Arnaud Demare looked for the flat stages among a mountainous route

French sprinter Arnaud Demare looked for the flat stages among a mountainous route
(Image credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Sport)
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Jean-Etienne Amaury, President of ASO, addresses the audience

Jean-Etienne Amaury, President of ASO, addresses the audience
(Image credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Sport)
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Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme unveils the route for the 2019 edition

Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme unveils the route for the 2019 edition
(Image credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Sport)
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Greg Van Avermaet watches on

Greg Van Avermaet watches on
(Image credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Sport)
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A full house in the Palais des Congres

A full house in the Palais des Congres
(Image credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Sport)
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Julian Alaphilippe likes what he sees

Julian Alaphilippe likes what he sees
(Image credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Sport)
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Raymond Poulidor had them laughing when he quipped that he, Merckx, Hinault, and Indurain had won 15 Tours between them

Raymond Poulidor had them laughing when he quipped that he, Merckx, Hinault, and Indurain had won 15 Tours between them
(Image credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Sport)
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Julian Alaphilippe waves to the crowd

Julian Alaphilippe waves to the crowd
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

The route for the 2019 Tour de France was officially unveiled in Paris on Thursday and, as is customary, a number of riders were invited along to attend the big reveal. 

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2018 Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas was present and correct, as was his compatriot, Team Sky teammate, and winner of the three previous editions, Chris Froome. 30-time stage winner Mark Cavendish and 2018 King of the Mountains Julian Alaphilippe were also among the big names invited onto the stage. 

The 2019 Tour marks the 100th anniversary of the race leader's yellow jersey, and some of the legends of the race were in attendance. Chief among them was Eddy Merckx, a five-time winner whose first victory will be commemorated on its 50th anniversary with the Grand Départ in his native Brussels, Belgium.

Merckx was joined on stage by Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain, the two other living riders who hold the joint record of five victories. Jacques Anquetil is the only other rider to have won the Tour de France five times.

Raymond Poulidor, the 'eternal second' who never managed to wear the yellow jersey, was also called up and joked that the four of them had won 15 Tours between them. 

After short addresses by ASO President, Jean-Etienne Amaury, and Mayor of Brussels, Philippe Close, the Tour's race director, Christian Prudhomme, took to the stage and unveiled the parcours for the 2019 Tour de France - the 106th edition of the race. 

Click or swipe through the gallery above for a selection of the best photos from the event.