Astana were asked to leave the race last year after Kazakh Alexander Vinokourov tested positive following his stage win in Albi.
Then leader Denmark's Michael Rasmussen (left) was kicked out of the event for allegedly lying on his training whereabouts and the Cofidis team withdrew after Italian Cristian Moreni tested positive for testosterone.
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Deprived of Astana, arguably the strongest outfit in the peloton, the race is expected to be wide open and favourite Cadel Evans of Australia will find it hard to clinch his first victory after finishing runner-up last year.
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