Cancellara eyes repeat success in Liege at Tour start

By Gilles Le Roc'h

LIEGE, Belgium (Reuters) - Fabian Cancellara, nicknamed "Spartacus" for his powerful build and sprinting prowess, is hoping for a successful return to the scene of his maiden stage victory when the Tour de France begins in Liege.

In 2004, Cancellara, then a twice junior time trial world champion, snatched a first significant win at the professional level when he upset American Lance Armstrong by two seconds in the opening prologue around the Belgian city.

Since then the Swiss has appeared almost inspired by stages of the Tour held outside of France, winning all the prologues abroad, in London in 2007, Monaco in 2009 and Rotterdam two years ago.

"It's quite emotional to return to a course that brought me such great memories," Cancellara said at his hotel near Liege.

"Now I don't know exactly how I'm going to feel after my problems this season. But I prepared well and I hope to be ready," he added.

The Olympic time trial and four-times world champion crashed and fractured his collarbone during the Tour of Flanders in April.

He underwent surgery and while he was back on the bike in late May, only began to rediscover form in the recent Tour of Switzerland where he finished second in two time trials.

Cancellara does not have to look far to see where the threats to another prologue win come from on Saturday.