PARIS -- Following are brief profiles of 2001 Tour de France favorites:

Lance Armstrong
United States, rides for U.S. Postal, 29 years old.
Best Tour result -- Winner 1999, 2000.
The powerful Texan has been so impressive in the last two years, since battling back from testicular cancer, that it is tempting to view a hat-trick as a foregone conclusion. Supremely dominant in time trials and an indefatigable climber, it will certainly take something special, or entirely unforeseen, to stop him. However, former winner Jan Ullrich and a pack of hungry young hopefuls are expected to push him all the way.

Jan Ullrich
Germany, rides for Telekom, 27 years old.
Best Tour result -- Winner 1997.
The 1997 champion has had obvious fitness problems in recent years but by all accounts he is in good shape for what many expect to be a straight fight with Armstrong. The German certainly has the all-round talent to win on a short but intense course and he will have the concerted backing of his Telekom team, which has beefed up its support crew for Ullrich at the expense of Erik Zabel's bid for a sixth successive points victory.

Joseba Beloki
Spain, rides for ONCE, 27 years old.
Best Tour result -- Third in 2000.
Beloki came out of nowhere to claim third place last year, despite riding with a strapped-up wrist, and bagged a move from Festina to Spanish giant ONCE. The wiry Basque, renowned as a climber but also good in time trials, showed he is in the sort of form to match that performance with his victory in the Tour of Catalunia last week.

Francesco Casagrande
Italy, rides for Fassa Bortolo, 30 years old.
Best Tour result -- Sixth in 1997.
Casagrande was forced out of the Giro d'Italia this year after a crash in the first stage resulted in a fractured left wrist. The Tour will provide a second chance to shine for one of the best climbers in the field. The former No. 1 cyclist in the world will be backed by the highly professional Fassa Bortolo team, managed by the wily Giancarlo Ferretti, but he is likely to lose time in stages against the clock, which might hurt his chances.

Christophe Moreau
France, rides for Festina, 30 years old.
Best Tour result -- Fourth in 2000.
Moreau, fresh from his victory in the Dauphine Libere race, will carry French hopes of a first victory for the host nation since 1985.

Roberto Heras
Spain, rides for U.S. Postal, 27 years old.
Best Tour result -- Fifth in 2000.
Heras followed up his fifth place last year with a victory in the Tour of Spain, but then moved from Kelme to Armstrong's U.S. Postal team to continue his education alongside the world's No. 1-ranked cyclist. Heras is perhaps the most talented of the current crop of Spanish climbers but his priority will be to work for his new teammate and third place is probably the best he can hope for.