2005 - Prologue and Stage 1 - Western France
Prologue - Noirmoutier en l'ile
Armstrong in his last tour appearance.
Ivan Basso, on his way to an unimpressive 20th place in the prologue behind the winner David Zabriskie his CSC team mate.
Stage 1 - Challans
Jan Ullrich, in what would be his final tour after he was caught up in Operation Puerto and banned the day before the 2006 tour.
Floyd Landis, racing for the Phonak team.