Possibly the most anticipated start to a Tour in the past decade, the Grand Depart in Fromentine, on the west coast of the country, is a time trial and not the traditional shorter prologue. All eyes will be on Lance Armstrong to see if the dominance he has shown in recent Tour time trials will continue and kickstart his campaign for a seventh Tour victory. He'll be challenged on the flat, 19 kilometre parcours by in-orm riders such as Michael Rogers, who is looking good after a successful Tour de Suisse, and Santiago Botero, whose class shined through at the Tour of Romandy. Fabian Cancellara, last year's surprise prologue winner, may have another surprise in store, and look to Brad McGee to throw up a threat; he's a perennial challenger for prologue honours - the extra distance shouldn't bother him too much, but his GC ambitions may control his push for opening day honours a little.
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'It's the last day of racing so you just give it your all' - Per Strand Hagenes closes out the year with solo win in Paris-Tours
Jasper Stuyven, Christophe Laporte round out podium -
HG Cross: Michael Vanthourenhout scores solo victory in Dendermonde as Pauwels Sauzen go 1-2
Yordi Corsus second for Pauwels Sauzen-Altez Industriebouw, Joran Wyseure third -
'Until the last kilometre I did the perfect race' – Florian Vermeersch misses defence but keeps his Gravel World Championships podium record intact in Nannup
'I was actually pretty confident I could do a good sprint' says defending champion after coming second to Magnus Bak Klaris in a four-way charge to the line -
HG Cross: Lucinda Brand lays down the power in Dendermonde to take first win on first day of racing in 2026/27 season
Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado second, Denise Betsema third in tight opening race of series
