Don't forget it also pits the world's best against each other

With all the talk of road closures, publicity motorcades and town festivals, it's easy to forget the Tour de France also boasts 189 of the world's best cyclists. The race itself is usually difficult to predict - a lot can happen over a 3,850 km route.

But there are five men most likely to wear the yellow jersey into Paris on August 2nd.

JAN ULLRICH (Germany): The 24-year-old became Germany's first winner of the Tour in very decisive fashion last year. All the signs are that again he is the man to beat. The red-head from Rostock has had some problems with excess weight, but all that seems to be sorted out and with the time trial his speciality, Ullrich must be watched tomorrow.

As last year's winner he is also the final man off the ramp at College Green and may well take the yellow jersey from the start. His Telekom team colours carry the German flag on the sleeves but otherwise look out for the gold earring in his left ear.

ABRAHAM OLANO (Spain): When five-times winner Miguel Indurain retired two years ago, it was Olano who took up the burden for Spain. He has done well, finishing fourth last year, but many see the 1998 race as the best chance for the 28-year-old to come out on top.

He's an excellent all-rounder and will be looking to make his mark on both the time trials and mountain stages. His team, Banesto, is sponsored by the biggest national bank in Spain, so red and yellow are the colours to look out for.

MARCO PANTANI (Italy): The man worth observing for two reasons: since winning the Giro d'Italia last month, Pantani is now a strong favourite to win his first Tour; he's also attention-grabbing because of his shaven head and left earring - earning him the nickname "The Pirate".

The 28 year-old has an impressive Tour record - third overall for the last two years and an incredible four mountain stage wins - so it's looking good for the first Italian victory in 33 years. His speciality is the mountains, and he may well be waiting for the Alps to make his mark.

Riding for the Mercatone UnoBianchi team (an Italian supermarket chain) his jersey will be a colourful yellow, white and blue, although if the Pirate has his way he will be swapping it for yellow as soon as possible.

BJAARNE RIIS (Denmark): The tall man of the peloton. Riis became Denmark's first winner in 1996 when the balding "Viking" easily rode away from the legendary Indurain. He was out of form last year but all the indications are he's back with a vengeance to prove his '96 win was not a once-off.

Now 34, he's also on the Telekom team, but that won't stop Riis going for the overall victory ahead of his teammate Ullrich. Famous for giving his all, Riis will definitely be leaving blood, sweat and fear on the Irish roads.

RICHARD VIRENQUE (France): The man who has come so close. In the last two years he has placed third and then second, and France will be behind their favourite Tour celebrity since Bernard Hinault in 1985.

Also aged 28, Virenque was known for his familiar black hair and customary dark sunglasses, but this year he decided to go blond, only it went disastrously wrong. It's now an old-looking grey. But this won't let Virenque stop striving to make his mark on the race. The mountains are his forte, so expect to see him lead the way up the Wicklow Gap in his Festina team colours of blue, white and gold.