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Isle of Man born sprinter Mark Cavendish has exploded on to the Tour de France scene in the past four years, winning 15 stages with HTC-Columbia
Olympic gold medalist Bradley Wiggins finished fourth in the 2009 Tour de France - and will be targeting the podium with Team Sky in 2011
The supremely gifted Spaniard - nicknamed "El Pistolero" - will be gunning for his fourth Tour de France title but continues to be dogged by accusations of doping
The 25-year-old Luxemburger has finished second to Alberto Contador in the past two Tours de France and will be determined to go one better in 2011
Philippe Gilbert enters the 2011 Tour on the back of some scintillating performances and is widely backed for stage victories in France
Australian battler and former mountain biker Cadel Evans has had some bad luck on previous Tours but remains a serious contender for the yellow jersey
Welshman Geraint Thomas is one of the most talented in a crop of young British cycling talent and proved his class in the 2010 race with Team Sky
King of the time trials, the Swiss powerhouse is a three-time world time trial champion and will provide valuable support for Andy Schleck at Team Leopard Trek
Twice winner of the green jersey, the Norwegian is one of the strongest all-round riders in the peloton and will push Mark Cavendish all the way in the sprints
The controversial Kazakhstani rider and Team Astana's main man polarizes opinion in cycling circles but his riding ability is impossible to ignore
Former Giro d'Italia champion Ivan Basso is one of the best cyclists in the world and will launch another assault on the sport's greatest race this year
After his fourth place in 2010, Euskaltel Euskadi are once again putting their podium hopes on the shoulders of nearly-man Samuel Sanchez
It's over three decades since a Dutchman last won the Tour de France, but young Robert Gesink has been widely tipped to make a mark on the GC in 2011
After placing fifth overall in the Tour de France last year Omega Pharma-Lotto have high hopes that the Belgian can push for a place on the podium
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