The Tour de France presentation was like a huge call of the school register, but as the 180 starters climbed onto the podium and waved to the crowd, there were some big names missing.
Some have been kept out of the Tour because they have broken the anti-doping rules, and the race will be all the better for their absence. Others have succumbed to injury or loss of form. Others are focusing on goals later in the season.
Here we list the biggest names missing from this year's Tour and why they're at home instead of in Monaco.
Alejandro Valverde Caisse d'Epargne
Caisse d'Epargne stepped down from what could have been a bitter dispute with ASO by deciding to leave Valverde out of the Tour team. With the Spaniard banned from racing in Italy for his involvement in Operacion Puerto, stage 16 could have been embarrassing for everyone as it crosses the border briefly.
One of the most puzzling omissions. The Olympic road race champion was seventh overall in last year's Tour. He's had a very light racing programme this year, didn't ride the Giro, and was a respectable ninth in his last event, the Tour of Catalonia in May.
Had a difficult Giro d'Italia and has finally accepted he's not a Grand Tour contender any longer. Has decided to skip the Tour and will focus the remainder of his season on the World Championships in Mendrisio.
As one of the riders who signifies the Operacion Puerto case that embarrassed the grand depart in Strasbourg three years ago, Basso's face would not be welcome at the Tour. Liquigas decided to announce very early their intention to leave him at home to avoid falling out with the organisers.
There's still a big question mark over Boonen. The French have barred him. Quick Step have tried to over-turn the decision. The lawyers have failed to decide. With so little time before the start, it's difficult to imagine the French backing down now.
After years of rumours and a controversial relationship with the Italian trainer-doctor Luigi Cecchini, the Dutch rider was told that a sample from late 2007 had tested positive for Dynepo. Silence-Lotto dropped him from the team, calling up Charly Wegelius instead.
10th overall in last year's Tour, was ninth at the Giro d'Italia but did not get selected for the Tour.
Remy Di Gregorio Française des Jeux
One of the young French hopes seems to have been derailed lately. He won't get a chance to develop this July, having failed to make the cut.
A stage winner in last year's Tour, there's no room in Columbia's star-studded roster this year.
Won the final stage on the Champs-Elysees last year while riding for Quick Step. Refused to sign Katusha's so-called anti-doping charter, requiring riders to pay five times their annual salary as a fine in the case of a positive dope test, so was left out of the Tour team.
Simon Gerrans Cérvelo
Surprisingly left out, particularly as he won at Prato Nevoso in the Alps last year, and took a stage of the Giro in May. Perhaps paying the price for going training with one of his team-mate Carlos Sastre's biggest rivals (Lance Armstrong and Levi Leipheimer) in the US?
RELATED LINKS
Tour de France 2009 - Cycling Weekly's full coverage
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