The team from the Human Nutrition Research Centre of Auvergne, in Clermont-Ferrand, France looked at the behaviour of proteins in muscle.

BBC: Maintaining muscle mass is easier when young

The deputy mayor of Clermont-Ferrand, where the pair studied, Bernard Dantal, said hearing the news had been "like being hit over the head".

BBC: Murdered pair had bright futures

The race has previously started in the French locations of Paris, Arras, Marseille and Clermont-Ferrand and the Spanish cities of Barcelona and Granada.

BBC: SPORT | Motorsport | Rallying | Dakar Rally welcomes record entry

In research performed at the University of Clermont-Ferrand in France, subjects were asked to interpret real vs. fake smiles, while holding a pencil in their mouths to repress the muscles that help us smile.

FORBES: The Untapped Power Of Smiling

Playing on a lightning fast indoor court at Clermont-Ferrand, Monfils got France's bid to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2004 off to a morale-boosting start in a see-saw encounter with clay-court specialist Ferrer.

BBC: France take shock Davis Cup lead over Spain