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Tour de France build-up 2019: 1 day to go

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Good morning, and welcome back to our live blog for another day of Tour de France build-up. The Grand Départ is just 24 hours away, and today we have more press conferences, training rides, and the like. We've been speaking to all the top riders so will have plenty of pre-race thoughts to bring you, along with the latest photos and gear on display in Brussels. 

CCC were the first team to hold their press conference today, and that's just wrapping up. Here's Greg Van Avermaet and co kitted up and ready to now head out for a training spin. 

Coming up today we have press conferences from Ineos, Mitchelton-Scott, and Bahrain-Merida all around 2pm local time.

Before we go anywhere, today marks the final day in Cyclingnews' annual 'countdown' to the Tour de France. We always produce 10 special features to whet the appetite, and with just one day to go, our final piece sees us pick out 10 riders to watch over the next three weeks. 

Greipel: This could be my last Tour

Dylan Groenewegen is, for many, the strongest sprinter in the world at the moment and therefore the favourite to pull on the first yellow jersey tomorrow. Here's what he has to say. 

Speaking of Groenewegen, he was asked yesterday about Marcel Kittel and the rumours that the German could return to the sport next year as his teammate at Jumbo-Visma. "Every team needs a second sprinter," he said. Here's the story

The Tour is obviously the biggest stage in the sport and we always see brands launching new products around this time. This morning, Giant has launched its new components range. Our tech editor Josh Evans has the details.

Peter Sagan was very much his usual self as he spoke at the teams presentation yesterday evening. The three-time world champion isn't a fan of predicting the future and kept his cards close to his chest about his ambitions in this Tour de France, with a possible yellow jersey tomorrow and a record-breaking seventh green jersey by Paris. 

There's just one day to go until the start of the Tour de France, and out latest podcast is out now. It features interviews with Geraint Thomas, Richie Porte, press conferences from Groupama-FDJ, Trek-Segafredo, and Deceuninck-QuickStep, and much more.

Alexander Kristoff talked about his chances over the next three weeks, including his hopes of challenging for the green jersey. The 32-year-old Russian, racing his seventh Tour, says he isn't feeling pressure, but doesn't see himself as the biggest favourite among the sprinters.

Every year sees a number of teams roll out special jerseys for the Tour de France, with Team Sky switching from black to white and Jumbo-Visma often substituting some yellow for white in order to avoid confusion with the maillot jaune.

2014 winner Vincenzo Nibali says he is "stuck between a rock and hard place" at this year's Tour.

Here's a bit of tech news in among all the rider quotes – Giant have announced a new range of wheels, tyres, saddles and finishing kit ahead of the Tour de France.

Caleb Ewan has had a strong start to his first season with Lotto Soudal. The Australian has six wins so far in 2019, including two stages at the Giro d'Italia, two at the Tour of Turkey, and a win at the ZLM Tour at the end of last month.

Here's our latest new piece, straight from the CCC Team press conference. Team boss Jim Ochowicz and team leader Greg Van Avermaet talked about how the team's Tour de France would look without a GC leader, and laid out their plan to get Van Avermaet into yellow after the team time trial.

The Team Ineos press conference is underway, and we'll get the news from there later on. In the meantime, team boss David Brailsford confirmed that Chris Froome left hospital yesterday, just over three weeks after a crash which left him with multiple serious injuries.

Mitchelton-Scott's press conference is also underway, so plenty of news to come!

Here's a live shot of the boss and the two team leaders at the Ineos presser.

The big news from Dimension Data's Tour de France squad announcement was the omission of Mark Cavendish. "I'm just sad," said Steve Cummings of the news. "From being a long-term friend. He's a legend of the Tour de France and it's a big call to leave him out." Cummings talked about his own selection and aspirations for the race too. Read the full story here.

Alexander Kristoff talked about his chances over the next three weeks, including his hopes of challenging for the green jersey. The 32-year-old Norwegian, racing his seventh Tour, says he isn't feeling pressure, but doesn't see himself as the biggest favourite among the sprinters.

Here's our gallery of yesterday's team presentation in Brussels. The crowds were huge as the Tour de France festivities kicked off, and Eddy Merckx was honoured on stage 50 years after his first Tour victory.

While we wait for news to filter through from this afternoon's press conferences (including that of Team Ineos), here's what Geraint Thomas had to say at the team presentation yesterday.

The final day in our ten-day countdown to the Tour de France means it's our final feature in the leadup to the race. Click through for our ten riders to watch over the next three weeks.

A host of new national champions around the world were crowned last week, and 12 of them will be at the Tour de France. Can you name them all?

A reminder about our latest Tour de France countdown podcast. It features interviews with reigning champion Geraint Thomas, Trek-Segafredo contender Richie Porte and more, as well as analysis of various teams after their press conferences. Click through to read more and listen.

Bora-Hansgrohe leader Peter Sagan is among the favourites for Saturday's opening stage in Brussels. The six-time green jersey winner is looking to add a seventh to his collection this July, but wouldn't be drawn on his chances of success at the Tour. Read the full story here.

Incidentally, Bora-Hansgrohe have just held their press conference. Max Schachmann, Peter Sagan, Emanuel Buchmann and Patrick Konrad were there. Here are a few photos.

Here's a summary of the Mitchelton-Scott press conference at Scott's headquarters from our man on the ground, Brecht Decaluwé.

And an update from Bora-Hansgrohe, via Stephen Farrand.

You may remember the brief note about Chris Froome leaving hospital from earlier this afternoon. Here's the full story, including quotes from Dave Brailsford, as the four-time Tour de France winner leaves hospital after a 22-day stay.

Here's our story on CCC Team and Greg Van Avermaet from earlier on. The team has a plan in place to get their leader in yellow the day after the stage 2 team time trial.

Our report on the opening stage of the Giro Rosa in Piedmont is up. The team time trial was only 18 kilometres long but it was tough one, and there are some decent gaps between the contenders already. Click through to read the report and results.

Our Tour de France stage 1 preview is up! The first stage win and thus, the first yellow jersey of the race, is up for grabs in Brussels tomorrow afternoon, and the sprinters will be out in force to try and claim them. 

Greipel: This could be my last Tour de France

Tour de France: Confident and consistent Adam Yates targets podium

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