99th edition of Tour de France starts in Belgium

The 99th edition of the Tour de France has started with Tom Veelers of the Netherlands rolling off the starter's ramp first in the 4-mile opening time trial.

Defending champion Cadel Evans of Australia will be the last to start on the route through the streets of Liege, Belgium.

Four-time time trial world champion Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland goes off before Evans with the aim of repeating his 2004 triumph, when he won the prologue on a similar course in the same city.

He has since won every Tour opening time trial on foreign soil, a run that includes wins in London (2007), Monaco (2009) and Rotterdam (2010).

Evans' main challenger this year, Bradley Wiggins, is among the contenders for the stage win.