Sprint star Tom Boonen of Belgium has been cleared to compete in the Tour de France after winning his appeal of a ban for testing positive for cocaine.

France's sports minister says Lance Armstrong will be "particularly monitored" for doping during the Tour de France.

Cycling's governing body says all 180 riders expected to start the Tour de France - plus one - have undergone planned pre-race blood tests.

Mountain specialist Dan Martin will miss the Tour de France with a knee injury. He will be replaced in the Garmin-Slipstream team by Dutch rider Martijn Maaskant.

For Lance Armstrong to win an eighth Tour de France, he will not only have to beat the best rider in the world - his teammate and rival Alberto Contador - he will also need to master an innovative course with a grueling last week that includes four mountain stages.

When Lance Armstrong and France's anti-doping agency were at odds last spring over a surprise doping test, the seven-time Tour de France champion's return to the Tour appeared to fade.

When the Tour de France starts Saturday, some cyclists may as well wear targets on their backs.

Lance Armstrong believes he can win an eighth Tour de France title, well aware his aging legs are not as strong as they used to be. He is also willing to put such ambitions aside if it means helping teammate Alberto Contador win.

France's anti-doping crusaders are stockpiling needles for testing blood and cups for sampling urine, and two new books on Lance Armstrong have just been released in France.

BAGNERES-DE-BIGORRE, France - Riccardo Ricco calls the mountains "my turf," and he knows how to protect it.

Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong will return to the Tour de France in the unfamiliar role of support rider after his Astana team chose 2007 winner Alberto Contador as its leader for the race.

CHOLET, France - Stefan Schumacher of Germany took the yellow jersey at the Tour de France, and now says everything else is a bonus.

SAINT-BRIEUC, France - With villagers calling out to him as he sped through the countryside, Alejandro Valverde kept his lead Sunday in the Tour de France and basked in the honor of wearing the yellow jersey.

PLUMELEC, France - Alejandro Valverde is determined to contend for the Tour de France title. And the Tour de France is determined to run a clean race.

BREST, France - Here's what victory will look like for Tour de France organizers: The riders reach the finish line in three weeks with no doping scandals.