CSC

TEAM PROFILE Country: Denmark Manager: Bjarne Riis Team leader: Ivan Basso Best Tour: 2003, Tyler Hamilton - fourth

One would have thought the departure of team leader Tyler Hamilton would have severely dented the team this season.

But they have gone from strength to strength and, over the course of the year, have been the form team

Their list of big wins is seemingly endless, starting with Jorg Jaksche triumphing in the Tour of the Mediterranean and Paris Nice.

Jens Voigt edged Lance Armstrong in the Criterium International and Tristan Hoffman triumphed in the Paris-Roubaix.

Under former Tour winner and team boss Bjarne Riis, CSC have maintained a sensational work ethic and bought very sensibly for this season.

Jaksche was brought in after his Once team folded but the most notable arrival is probably that of Italian rider Ivan Basso.

Basso was seventh a year ago - 10 minutes behind Armstrong - but at 26 has yet to reach his full potential as a rider. With a team as strong as CSC's he could relish a pop at the Texan a year on.

The 2003 race was a good one for the team - then leader Hamilton finishing fourth despite breaking his collarbone in a horrific first-stage crash.

A year previously they managed the King of the Mountains prize, courtesy of Laurent Jalabert.

Jalabert has since gone but CSC boast a wealth of talent, among them Carlos Sastre, who was ninth last year - his second top-10 finish.