MILLAR PROFILE DOB: 04/01/1977 Nationality: British Team: Cofidis Best Tour: 2000 - Prologue winner, 62nd overall

The Scottish Cofidis rider suffered a horrific crash when he was hit by a motorbike during the Criterium International.

He suffered damage to his hip, which required a minor operation, and severe cuts to his arms and legs.

Millar, who had enjoyed a superb pre-season training, has insisted the setback will not affect his Tour ambitions, despite missing out on six weeks of competition.

And recent results would back that up. He was third in the Dauphine Libere behind Lance Armstrong and Iban Mayo.

The 26-year-old has long been billed as a future winner of the race but could only muster a reasonably disappointing 68th last time around.

After some poor performances in the mountains, he at least took something away from the race with an impressive win on stage 14.

He is still some way off his peak as a rider and has given himself the target of another stage win and no more this season.

He recently told BBC Sport: "In all honesty, that was the target last time and it'll be the target again.

"I hope to be in perfect shape by the time I line up at the start and, if I get anything more than a stage win, it'll be a nice bonus."

The prologue is a possible target, with Millar having won it before on his race debut in 2000. He finished 62nd that year - still his best overall finish.

Plucked from obscurity

Millar's riding style has been compared to that of three-time winner Greg Lemond.

He was plucked from obscurity at the age of 21 from the amateur ranks by the same man who discovered both Lemond and double Tour winner Laurent Fignon.

Millar was born in Malta and raised in Scotland, England and Hong Kong. He now lives in Biarritz, France.