Astana (KAZ)

Despite some pre-race controversy, Astana will be a dominant force. Taciturn Kazakh Alexandre Vinokourov wants the yellow jersey, and has 2004 runner-up Andreas Kloden of Germany to help him achieve his goal alongside the lively Andrey Kashechkin and former Tour of Spain winner Paolo Savoldelli, one of the best downhillers in the peloton. In the event 'Vino' falls out of contention, Kloden could take over the leadership.

Agritubel (FRA)

The first wildcard invitation to the race was snapped up by the modest, but ambitious French outfit, and like last year they will be looking to honour their presence with another stage win. Juan Miguel Mercado is their main hope, although Frenchman Nicolas Vogondy will be looking to slip into one of the numerous breakaways, which will punctuate the race throughout.

AG2R (FRA)

Christophe Moreau is France's best hope of a top finish in the race for the yellow jersey, and is on the form of his life having won the Dauphine Libere stage race and the French national championship. Cyril Dessel is the team's second hope for the general classification, while climber John Gadret hopes to show what he can do in the mountains. A complete team, which will be buoyed by hard-working Simon Gerrans of Australia and Frenchman Sylvain Calzati.

Barloworld (GBR)

The South African-flavoured British outfit were handed the race's second wildcard invitation, and say they are determined to make it count by multiplying the attacks. Experienced South African Robert Hunter has plenty of Tour experience, but has yet to beat the likes of Robbie McEwen and Oscar Freire in the bunch sprints. Former stage winner Felix Cardenas of Colombia could prove a menace in the mountains. Welshman Geraint Thomas is one of the numerous race debutants.

Bouygues Telecom (FRA)

The French outfit's campaign was saved by Pierrick Fedrigo's impressive stage victory at Gap last year ? the team's first ever stage win in seven appearances. With no yellow jersey contenders, Fedrigo, Anthony Geslin and Thomas Voeckler, who defied Lance Armstrong by holding on to the yellow jersey for 10 days in 2004, will be asked for more of the same.

Caisse d'Epargne (ESP)

Oscar Pereiro will have mixed feelings, having finished second to Floyd Landis prior to the American's positive test for testosterone. This year the Spaniard will be working to boost compatriot Alejandro Valverde's realistic bid for the yellow jersey ? if he manages to stay in the race, having crashed out in the past two years before it got to Paris. Valverde has a solid team around him, which also includes Russians Vladimir Karpets and Vladimir Efimkin.

Cofidis (FRA)

A stage win thanks to Jimmy Casper last year got Cofidis in high spirits, and this time Briton Bradley Wiggins is aiming to grab his first yellow jersey by winning the prologue in his native London. Stage wins elsewhere are possible, either through Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel, sprinter Nick Nuyens or his fellow Belgian Rik Verbrugghe, a former stage winner. Cofidis will also be hoping Colombian climber Ivan Parra can shine in the mountains.

Credit Agricole (FRA)

Norwegian Thor Hushovd is the focus of the men in green in white, having began and ended the 2006 race in victory. The powerful sprinter will have Kiwi Julian Dean as a crucial lead-out man in the bunch sprints, and Hushovd will also have his eye on the green jersey for the race's points classification.

CSC (DEN)

Spaniard Carlos Sastre will shoulder the team's yellow jersey hopes, but is not a huge favourite. Nevertheless, the strong Danish outfit will be looking for glory elsewhere. The two time trials could suit specialists David Zabriskie and Fabian Cancellara, while Jens Voigt, Stuart O'Grady and all-rounder Frank Schleck all have stage-winning experience. Cancellara is also targeting the prologue, and could pull on the first yellow jersey of the race in London.

Discovery Channel (USA)

The American outfit are confident that Levi Leipheimer, who has three career top ten places, can at least step on to the podium ? and perhaps become the eighth consecutive American to triumph in Paris. It was a comparatively disastrous campaign in 2006, and there are amends to make. American George Hincapie and Ukraine's Yaroslav Popovych will be targeting stage wins. Spanish climber Alberto Contador, and Russia's Vladimir Gusev will, however, be just as hungry. A real threat to Vinokourov, and Astana.

Euskaltel (ESP)

Thanks to their traffic cone-coloured jerseys, the Basque outfit are un-missable, but will they miss mercurial climber Iban Mayo, who has joined Saunier Duval? Haimar Zubeldia, who finished fifth overall in 2003, will look to shine in the tough Pyreneean stages alongside former Dauphine Libere winner Inigo Landaluze and the experienced Mikel Astarloza, who is racing his fifth Tour.

Francaise des Jeux (FRA)

Full of promise, but have stuggled to deliver. FDJ will miss the anticipated presence of Aussie Brad McGee, who is still suffering back problems, and Austrian sprinter Bernhard Eisel who has moved on to T-Mobile. The team leader is Sandy Casar, but although strong he could find it hard to keep pace with the big boys. Possible stages wins for promising Swede Thomas Lovkvist, or huge Belgian talent Philippe Gilbert. Climber Remy Di Gregorio will make his debut.

Gerolsteiner (GER)

The youth-filled German outfit have several cards up their sleeves since American Levi Leipheimer departed for Discovery Channel: Stefan Schumacher, who won two stages at the Giro d'Italia last year, is an all-rounder, Robert Foster and Heinrich Haussler will be in the bunch sprints and Markus Fothen, 15th overall on his debut, will be aiming for the white jersey.

Lampre (ITA)

Alessandro Ballan has had a huge season, winning the Tour of Flanders and the Three Days of La Panne. Alongside Daniele Bennati, the wiry all rounder is Lampre's best hope of victory, especially is he escapes on a breakaway. In the absence of Damiano Cunego, who won the white jersey last year, Tadej Valjavec will aim to come good on his 16th place overall last year on his debut.

Liquigas (ITA)

The Italian outfit's best finisher at last year's Tour was Stefano Garzelli, who was nearly two hours adrift ? and has since moved to Acqua Sapone. This year Spaniard Manuel Beltran will be looking for a devent overall finish, although Liquigas have already won one major Tour this year, Danilo Di Luca winning the Giro d'Italia. A more likely scenario would be Filippo Pozatto spearheading their bid for stage wins.

Quick Step (BEL)

Former world champion Tom Boonen's bid for stage wins - and possibly the race's green jersey for the points competition - will not be easy. Boonen has had a comparatively mediocre season so far, but that could instill the hunger he will need to overcome some tough sprinters. The Belgian pin-up will also be hoping to make amends for his two abandons in 2005, through injury, and 2006.

Milram (ITA)

The Italian outfit were built around top sprinter Alessandro Petacchi, however, he has been replaced by Ukrainian Andriy Grivko after the Italian Olympic Committee said 'Ale-Jet' should serve a one-year ban for doping with asthma drug salbutamol. In his absence, Milram will look to the experienced legs of Germany's Erik Zabel, and those of the less experienced Australian Brett Lancaster.

Predictor-Lotto (BEL)

It's almost two teams in one, with two plans of attack depending on the stage. Robbie McEwen will be looking for protection prior to unleashing his power on the bunch sprints. Fellow Australian Cadel Evans will then be hoping to garner team support once the race heads into the high mountains, where in previous editions he has often been on his own. McEwen will also be aiming for a fourth green jersey for the race's points competition.

Rabobank (NED)

Russian Denis Menchov led the team's yellow jersey bid last year, finishing a respectable sixth overall having won the hilly stage 11. A first win however is likely to come through Spaniard Oscar Freire, one of the most feared sprinters in the peloton, or the up and coming Dutchman Thomas Dekker. In the latter stages, Danish climber Michael Rasmussen will be aiming for a stage or two, and a third consecutive polka dot jersey.

Saunier Duval (ESP)

Last year David de la Fuente made it on to the podium as the race's most aggressive rider. This year, Scotland's David Millar is aiming for the yellow jersey by winning the opening prologue while Spanish climber Iban Mayo, a former stage winner and long-time contender for the podium, will be aiming to prove that his glory days are not behind him in the mountains where Juan Jose Cobo could also play a rol. Sprinter Francisco Ventoso should not be overlooked.

T-Mobile (GER)

Thanks to Michael Rogers, T-Mobile have the yellow jersey on their minds and have a strong and youth-filled team that is hoping to impress. But like CSC, the German outfit have several aces, including British sprinter Mark Cavendish, and German all rounders Marcus Burghardt and Linus Gerdemann ? all three of whom are making their debut. Gerdemann, Patrick Sinkewitz, Axel Merckx and Kim Kirchen will be the pace men in the high mountains for Rogers, who finished 10th overall last year and will be aiming to do well in the time trials.