Debutants ready to roar

Wegelius has become a dependable team man in the race, finishing in the top 60 overall in each of the last four editions, first for De Nardi and then for the last two years for current team Liquigas.

But after being the sole Brit in the 2006 edition - where he was involved in a breakaway on stage 18 only to finish fifth - he has company in Discovery Channel's Steve Cummings who makes his debut in a Grand Tour.

The Merseysider joined the US outfit this season after two years with Landbouwkrediet-Colnago but is best known for his track feats.

Cummings won gold in the team pursuit at the 2005 World Track Championships in Los Angeles and at the 2006 Commonwealth Games where he also took a bronze in the individual pursuit.

Ireland's Nicolas Roche will also make his debut, 20 years after his father Stephen won the race.

"I've been waiting for this for the past two years and I can't wait to see what I can do. I want to finish it, that's for sure, but I also want to be competitive and try and get into the break at least one day," the 22-year-old Crédit Agricole rider told the Irish Daily Star.