You might say that BMC Racin Team's Cadel Evans has not enjoyed much luck in his previous Tours de France, but the former mountain biker remains a force to be reckoned with.
Last year, though he briefly wore the yellow jersey, his Tour literally ended in tears after he sustained a hairline fracture to his elbow in a crash on Stage 9.
Going a year further back, you would have been forgiven for thinking that 2009 would have been the Australian's last outing, after he slumped to a miserable 30th place - a full 45 minutes down on winner Alberto Contador.
But the BMC Racing Team leader is made of stern stuff and he is not afraid of speaking his mind. Many journalists - including ITV4's very own Ned Boulting - have found this to their cost over the years.
In 2009, Evans hit back from the disappointment of the Tour to finish third in the Vuelta, before powering to victory at the World Championship in September around the Swiss roads of Mendrisio.
Some people question Evans' stamina however, unlike his willowy counterparts, the 34-year-old can call upon a hugely successful mountain bike career that netted World Cup wins in 1998 and 1999.
His rugged style was honed for the road at minor events like the Tour of Austria, Tour of Germany and Tour Down Under before he made a big impact at his Tour de France debut in 2005 for Davitamon-Lotto.
He was eighth overall, suggesting there was more in the tank, which he duly followed up on by claiming fourth overall in 2006 along with a Tour of Romandie victory.
The Australian Cyclist of the Year wasn't finished there as he churned out a succession of gritty stage performances, including a Stage 13 time-trial win, to finish runner-up to Contador in 2007.
2008 was supposed to be his year, in the wake of Alberto's absence, but he found an obstinate Carlos Sastre in his path. His early lead was blasted away by the Spaniard on Alpe d'Huez and he was second again.
Even though his team let him down in 2009's French jaunt, and injury marred last year's race, Evans is one of a select few to hold the Maglia Rosa, yellow and gold jerseys in the Giro, Tour and Vuelta respectively during his career.
And having picked up the Tirreno-Adriatico and Tour de Romandie titles already this year it looks like Cuddles is coming into form at just the right time for the 2011 Tour.