Those triumphs followed on from ending his juvenile campaign with Group One wins in Longchamp's Grand Criterium and the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.

BBC: Gibraltar wins the Sussex

Team Sky's Bradley Wiggins, who has won the Paris Nice and Criterium du Dauphine this season, will start the three-week race as favorite.

CNN: 2010 champion Andy Schleck out of this year's Tour de France

Val d'Isere is the traditional host of the start of the main European swing of the World Cup season, having staged men's races last weekend as part of the traditional Criterium de la Premiere Neige ("races of the first snow").

CNN: U.S. skier Nyman savors 'best gift' after long-awaited win

Pat Eddery won the 2, 000 Guineas three times as a jockey and saddles his first Classic runner as a trainer in Hearts Of Fire, who ended last season with a Group One victory in the Gran Criterium at San Siro in Italy.

BBC: St Nicholas Abbey bids for 2,000 Guineas glory