The Tour de France kicks off on Saturday in Monaco with a challenging 15.5 km individual time trial. One candidate to wear the Yellow Jersey first is Fabian Cancellara. Part of the course run along the Formula 1 track; the sports groups have been invited to set up in the auto racing pits.

This time trial hasn't been tailored to specialists, but rather rewards strong athletes, Tour Director Jean-François Pescheux maintains. That puts Fabian Cancellara on centre stage.

He started off the season poorly but in the last three weeks has found his form quite nicely, including wins in both the Tour de Suisse and the Swiss national road racing title. If Cancellara does indeed win the time trial, then the chances are good that he'll wear the coveted Yellow Jersey for at least seven days, just like in 2007. In 2004 the Olympic gold medallist was unseated as leader after just 48 hours.

The Tour de France will then move toward the southwest without any major topographical challenges. Cancellara's Saxo Bank team will take a centre stage on day four when the team time trials are on tap.

Only once a side excursion into Spain is complete does the attention then turn to the climbing specialists.