It should come as no surprise that the announcement of the route for the 100<sup>th edition of the Tour de France was again dominated by a man whose name, once synonymous with the grand tour, is now one that evokes outrage among the sport of cycling.

His seven tour victories may be erased from the record books, but the doping scandal orchestrated by Lance Armstrong will never stop being an prominent issue in a sport reeling from the US anti-doping agency's report. Always perceived as bigger than his sport, Armstrong finally has his wish.

And with the Tour de France set to celebrate its 100<sup>th race in 2013, the controversy and the story becomes all the more relevant, as if possible, upon the mention of an event which he ruled for seven consecutive years.

Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish
Wiggins and Cavendish agree Armstrong should confess.

The Armstrong affair has done little to deter the organisers from not making the centenary tour an emotive one. The course will remain in France for the first time in 10 years, the steep ascents, two of which come up Alp d-Huez on stage 18 meanwhile means 2013 plays into the hands of the traditional climber. An evening sprint finish on the Champs-Elysees is the ideal crescendo.

Next year's version differs significantly from the course which assisted in Bradley Wiggins becoming the first Briton to win the yellow jersey, with the two time trial stages shortened to nullify their significance and assist in the fortunes of teammate Chris Froome, as well as the likes of Andy Schleck, who missed the 2012 tour due to injury, and two-time winner Alberto Contador.

The flat 212km first stage hands Mark Cavendish, who will ride with Omega Pharma-QuickStep, the opportunity to claim the yellow jersey for the first time in his career.

The tour's message already appears to be about beating doping, and dismissing the memory of Armstrong, which according to Cavendish should start with the 41 year old's confession.

"If you've done something, confess," he said. "That anyone can damage the sport I love right now, it's frustrating. There are cheats in entertainment, journalists cheat, every single sport has cheats.

"If you put the effort into catching them and you have a structure that does things properly, you're going to catch a cheat.

"It doesn't happen in other sports, not because they are clean but because it's not got the structure cycling has. In my eyes, cycling is the cleanest sport."

While the pair might have had a difference of opinion in the mode of attack during last year's tour, Wiggins and Cavendish certainly agree on how Armstrong, who has constantly denied allegations of doping, should proceed

''I think there is a lot of anger from most people within the sport, it is a sport I love and have always loved,'' Wiggins said.

''It is a shame that cycling is being dragged through this again really, not a shame that he has been caught - when you get older you start to realise Father Christmas doesn't exist and it is the same with Lance.

''But it is a shame that us riders here now, we are the one picking the pieces up and having to convince people.

"He is a stubborn man and I don't think he is ever going to confess, he has too much to lose.''