Phillipe Gilbert has said that he will be under pressure to perform when the Grand Departe of the 99th edition of the Tour De France gets underway on Saturday in his home city of Liege in Southern Belgium.
The Belgian champion and superstar in these parts is seen by the locals as favourite for the prologue on Saturday and Sunday's stage from Liege to Seraing.
The BMC rider knows he is under pressure to perform and said about Le Tour starting in his home city: "I know it will be great, a huge event. But I also know the pressure will be on me and I'll have to deal with the fans, media and the stress ..."
Gilbert is one of the 198 riders from 22 teams plus all their entourages and some 4,500 members of race staff and media currently in Liege for a race being shown live in 190 countries.
You can see the race live via our friends at ITV4 and Eurosport from Saturday at 2pm.