With the annual race beginning next week, we take a look at some of its most infamous competitors.

One insurer wants to know when Pat McQuaid first learned of Armstrong’s doping.

McQuaid dubbed his plans “half baked, fundamentally flawed and financially impractical”.

Brian Cookson is taking on Pat McQuaid in the battle for control of cycling.

The Dubliner is seeking a battle for a third term as president of the UCI.

The Tour de France legend says he doesn’t “rejoice” in the downfall of the man that pushed him out of cycling.

‘Lance keeps talking about how he cares about the sport, and I have a belief that if you care about the sport you’ll ultimately do the right thing.’

“I don’t think it is a negative that Armstrong was caught. If the cheating was as rampant as it was it needed to be exposed and those who cheated held accountable.

“Our success has never been based on one person — it’s based on the patients and survivors we serve every day.”

Lance Armstrong faces a powerful new adversary — the United States government.

The American also said he received a blood transfusion from a team-mate.

The Feds are investigating the former Tour de France legend, according to reports.

The disgraced former tour leged says the Irishman is constantly in ‘cover your ass mode’.

‘A truth and reconciliation hearing is the best way we can examine the process,’ said the UCI chief Pat McQuaid.

‘I will certainly not go Armstrong’s way and speak in front of millions of people.’

Hein Verbruggen says the UCI did what they could to warn riders who appeared to be at risk of failing doping tests.

“You can tell, it’s real. He’s very emotional and he’s definitely sorry.”

Do yourself a favour and buy all of these, Rozanna.

Tyler Hamilton and Daniel Coyle’s exposé of doping in cycling has won the prestigious sportswriting prize.

The United States Anti-Doping Agency says the US Postal Service team ‘ran the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen.’

On Saturday night the former Tour champion confronted a former team-mate who said Armstrong doped. Now the feds will decide if was ‘witness tampering’.

Don’t you just hate when you run into a former team-mate who recently accused you of doping on national television? How embarrassing.

The CBS News programme is standing by its allegations that seven-time Tour de France winner Armstrong took performance-enhancing drugs in 2001.

Results of 2001 sample were “consistent with EPO use” one scientist has told investigators.

Former team-mate Tyler Hamilton insisted Armstrong doped throughout Tour de France winning streak.

Team’s receipt of $40m sponsorship money from the US Postal Service provides grounds for federal inquiry.

Former team-mate Viatcheslav Ekimov also comes out in support of seven-time Tour winner.

Former team-mate Tyler Hamilton claims Tour de France legend ‘encouraged’ doping on his team.

A former team-mate, Tyler Hamilton, has alleged that he saw Armstrong take the performance-enhancer EPO but the multiple Tour de France winner has denied the allegations