Cadel Evans set to defend Tour de France title

LIEGE, Belgium (AP) -- Cadel Evans of Australia says he's in good shape and hopes his form will peak during his quest to defend the Tour de France title.

Britain's Bradley Wiggins also is in top form and considered one of the favorites to win cycling's biggest event that starts on Saturday in the Belgian city of Liege, with a 4-mile prologue.

Evans says, "They tell me that Wiggins is the man to beat."

However, he added his BMC team is ready, stronger and confident they will retain the title with a race plan that is almost identical to last year.

The Tour will cover about 2,174 miles over the next three weeks.

The race ends July 22 on the Champs d'Elysees in Paris.