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606: DEBATE Your thoughts on the action

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By Paul Fletcher

1446: Don't worry if you are relatively new to the Tour de France and don't understand all its wonder nuances as there is a guide to the race on the cycling index.
Understanding the Tour de France

1440: The first rider out today, by the way, is Dutchman Kenny van Hummel. In all honesty, not a man I know a great deal about.

From Simon, Bristol, via text on 81111: "Hi, Bradley Wiggins recently did an 18 minute '10' in Kent. So he's my tip to be in yellow at the end of the day."

I am very much assuming the 10 is kilometres. One wonders what else it could possibly be.

1432: I'm excited by the start of the Tour every year but this time more than most. Armstrong and Contador are back and I cannot wait to see how the whole Astana team goes through the next few weeks.

Then there is the whole Cav green jersey bid - can the Manx flier last until Paris?

With Evans looking to finally finish first and Menchov in form after the Giro there are plenty in the mixer. So much so that defending champion Carlos Sastre seems to be something of a forgotten man.

From pigeons in the park on 606: "Fabulous Fabian is my bet - but I'd place Wiggins above Millar for highest ranking Brit - it's hilly, and Brad has got much better at hills this year."

From Kuzfan on 606: "It's gonna be great. I think Contador will win the Tour but I'm more excited at seeing Cavendish in the sprints. Today's stage - expect Kirchen, Wiggins, Cancellara, Millar, Armstrong, Contador to be at or near the top!!!"

1420: The time trial starts at 1500 BST, with the last man out at 1808 BST. Expect the stage, which includes one Category Four climb and is uphill for the first half, to take the riders approximately 20 minutes.

1415 BST: So, here we go. The waiting is finally over as the 2009 Tour de France opens with a 15.5 km time trial around the famous streets of Monaco.

Astana rider Alberto Contador will be looking to put a marker down and claim the yellow jersey but he faces stiff competition in the form of Swiss time trial ace Fabian Cancellara.

And of course, there is Lance Armstrong as the American competes in the race for the first time since the last of his seven-straight Tour wins in 2005.

Armstrong is an Astana team-mate of Contador and it will be fascinating to see how he goes today - and indeed I cannot wait to see how the entire team politics plays out over the coming weeks. Will Lance really settle for riding for Contador?

And then there is Levi Leipheimer, Denis Menchov and Cadel Evans.....

Today isn't about crackerjack sprinter Mark Cavendish but British interest should focus on Bradley Wiggins and David Millar.

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