Some tip the Scotsman for a future Tour win.

He is still young, and in 2000 he was the first man in yellow after taking victory in the prologue.

A finish in the 2000 race boosted his confidence but exhaustion and injury, as a result of a fall in the prologue, caused him to abandon last year's race.

Since then he has stepped up his training regime and says he expects to peak for this yearm despite suffering glandular fever last winter.

But his mental toughness remains a question mark, which is a key to the consistency and determination required for Le Tour.

Andrei Kivilev, the fourth-placed rider last year, may again take the mantle of team leader from the Scot as the race progresses.

And Belgian Nico Mattan and Frenchman David Moncoutie provide further experience and world class to the team line-up.

Team boss Alain Bondue has poached riders from elsewhere in a bid to bolster an already impressive squad.

Former US Postal rider Cedric Vasseur - who wore yellow during 1997 - was the big name brought in for this season.

Cofidis, as a team, are now in their sixth season, and are still well known as the team which let go Lance Armstrong.

Their greatest success in the race so far has fallen to another American, Bobby Julich, but his form fell away following his 1998 third place.