While the sports world struggles to come to terms with the Lance Armstrong doping scandal, Tour de France organizers unveiled a mountainous route for the 100th edition of the world's greatest cycling race on Wednesday (October 24).
But with nine of the last 14 title wins wiped out because of doping, it remains to be seen how much credibility this year's race will retain.
Seven of those titles belonged to Armstrong, who was stripped of his 1999-2005 victories when the International Cycling Union ratified the United States Anti-Doping Agency's decision to nullify the American's results from August 1998 onward.
In a passionate outburst during the ceremony, director Christian Prudhomme, said the sport will come out stronger after the ordeal.
"The Tour de France is part of our heritage, it brings together people of all ages, and all conditions, it is venerated, it has social values. The Tour de France will be stronger than doping and stronger than the cheats - which is also attacking other sporting disciplines. Doping is the enemy," Prudhomme said.
Next year's route is expected to suit top climbers with Spain's Contador and Briton Chris Froome the likely favourites, while defending champion Bradley Wiggins might find it tough to contain the attackers throughout.
