TEAM PROFILE Country: France Manager: Serge Barle Team leaders: Stephane Goubert, Patrice Halgand Best Tour: 2002, Goubert 17th

Despite that, they equipped themselves admirably with a solitary stage win and two finishers in the top 30.

Undoubtedly their best moment of the tour came on stage 10 when Patrice Halgand broke from the back for a stage win.

That was their sole success, although the form of Stephane Goubert impressed many throughout the mountain stages.

Goubert ended 17th overall, while team-mate Laurent Brochard was 26th, but has since moved to French rivals AG2R Prevoyance.

Should Goubert hit top form again, the team could well find themselves climbing further up the ranks, especially if Halgand can produce a more consistent run throughout the race.

The 29-year-old has showed some good form for parts of the season.

And the team have since tried to bolster their line-up but their lack of class throughout could halt their progress.

The Delatour team have had a chequered past in the race.

Back in 2000, they considered launching legal action against the race organisers after they failed to get an invitation.

This year they benefited from keeping quiet after a failed application, and Saeco's loss was their gain.

They crept in as one of the wildcard invites, but without the controversy.