Saturday's events start the Tour de France cycling league (Tour de France) in the western air Passage de France, where it enters the Spaniard Alberto Contador champions race looking for a fourth league win in five years.
Contador won the title and Tour de France in the years 2007 and 2009 and 2010, but the Spaniard, aged 28 years, expressed his concern about whether he recovered fully after the depletion of energy during the coronation title of Giro d'Italia in May / May.
Did not achieve any rider to achieve a combination of titles Giro d'Italia and Tour de France, since the great Marco Pantani, the same achievement in 1998.
He has Contador, who will teach decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport on his involvement in substance abuse "Clenbuterol" banned during the Tour de France last year, after the French version of the race this year, all the capabilities required to bring the title races.
As was the situation 12 months ago, the main rival to Contador is Andy Schleck of Luxembourg, who finished second in the last two copies of the Tour de France, behind Contador.
Schleck and lost the title last year after a late lead only 39 seconds behind Contador in the overall standings of the race, but this year it is supported by his brother Frank next to the power enjoyed by his Leopard Trek.
Schleck said channel Philo News "I have no excuses now, all the things around me up to be perfect, it now depends on, I have to be adventurous in this race."
The other rider, who is expected to climb to the podium in the Tour de France is the international Samuel Sanchez / 33, /, having finished fourth last year.
And celebrates the Tour de France this year, over a century on the first experience of climbing in the Alps.
Although the possibility of expect some surprises in the first week of the race, which begins in an atmosphere of Vedic storm province west of France, on the Atlantic coast, the real conflict is expected to be in the third week of the race through the Alps.
Like Schleck, Australian Cadel Evans has finished second in the Tour de France twice, in 2007 and 2008, and provided a great level of last season, but the age factor (34 year) began to reduce the chances of winning the race.
In contrast to Evans, the Ivan Basso / 33 / winner of Giro d'Italia in 2010 in a state of deadlock, before he suffered a crash during training at Mount Etna last May.
He preferred the Italian Basso not to participate in Giro d'Italia this year in order to enhance his chances of competing for the title of Tour de France.
However, Saxo Bank team is confident in the ability of bike Contador to win the title of Tour de France in his favor this year.
