It is time. When the Tour de Suisse begins in Olten on Saturday, the occasion is not so significant for the opening time trial, as it is that the Tour de France is exactly three weeks away.

For the time being at least, the Puerto headlines do not rule the sporting pages of magazines or newspapers. The confessions, that have so far numbered four, have stopped. But the cynicism is still there; the public wants - no, the public needs - to see some clean winners, and it must start now.

One of two primary lead-up events to Tour itself, the Tour de Suisse runs concurrently with the Critirium du Dauphini Libiri, which therefore means teams and riders must choose between the two. Both offer a similar parcours, a mini-Tour de France if you will, so one's participation often comes down to personal preference more than anything else.

Throughout its years, the Dauphini Libiri has endured some rough patches, and until recently, found itself in the uneviable position of contending with small fields and hit-and-miss racing. Lance Armstrong's participation in all bar one of his seven Tour victories certainly helped its revival, as did the advent of the ProTour, which demanded the world's top teams ride both in France and Switzerland prior to the start of La Grande Boucle.

Conversely, the Tour de Suisse, which will celebrate its 71st birthday this year, has almost always attracted a loyal, international following, its prestige never in doubt.

Picture perfect surroundings, where the familiar sound of cowbells ring high on the hills of grassy mountain slopes, beautifully paved roads, top quality fields, a demanding though not exhaustive parcours, and typically friendly Swiss hospitality: unique calling cards that have found champions from Merckx in 1974, Hampsten in 1986 (the first American winner), Armstrong in 2001, and Vinokourov in 2003.

Last year, it was Ullrich for the second time, and before Puerto, many were expecting a second Tour de France victory as well. Though with the latter's sporting achievements under heavy scrutiny and now in doubt, race organizers IMG are no doubt desperate to find a new, unblemished winner, one who has not been sullied by the seemingly ubiquitous doping hand that has derailed the sport.

Thankfully, there are a few in waiting. Coming to the table in 2007 are T-Mobile's Michael Rogers, Astana's Andreas Klvden, CSC's Carlos Sastre, Caisse d'Epargne's Vladmir Karpets, Predictor-Lotto's Chris Horner, Saunier Duval's Gilberto Simoni, Lampre-Fondital's Damiano Cunego, Discovery Channel's Yaroslav Popovych, and Rabobank's Thomas Dekker.

Most are riding the Tour, so how much these men will push themselves in a bid to win overall is an interesting question, and one that will only be answered as the race takes shape. A fortnight separates the two races, so there is opportunity to excel in both.

Cunego isn't riding this year's loop around France, and after finishing fifth in the Giro d'Italia, could be the one to watch. "I finished the Giro with increasing fitness," said Cunego. "Afterwards, I took part in three criteriums and then trained in quite an intense way.

"When I confirmed my intention not take part in the Tour de France, I thought it could be interesting try to use my condition in a race with a tough parcours; I think my condition will permit me to realize good performances in the Tour de Suisse," he said.

A number of late changes by team manager Giuseppe Saronni, in particular adding riders that can help Cunego on the climbs - of which there are many - confirms Lampre are more than mildly serious in their ambitions. To have 'number 1' next to your name, in what is arguably the fourth biggest stage race in the world, is a treasured feather in anyone's palmarhs.

There's also a bunch of riders coming to the Tour de Suisse for other reasons. Some, like CSC's Fabian Cancellara, will use the 3.8 kilometer prologue as a pre-Tour de France dress rehearsal, gauging his chances on taking the first maillot jaune in London on July 7.

Others, like Robbie McEwen, Oscar Freire and Daniele Bennati, will use the sprint stages to hone their form before tackling the opening week of the Tour at full speed; traditionally a sprinters' delight, and crucial if one is to make an assault on the green jersey.

Coming to Suisse has been a part of McEwen's Tour de France plan for a number of years now, and after three green jerseys and 11 stage wins, the Australian has no intention of changing his tried and true formula.

"Since 2002, I found a pretty good formula for getting myself ready for the Tour, so I just keep doing the same thing," said McEwen.

"The Tour de Suisse will serve as a very good endurance camp with quite a lot of climbing, which is good for the general condition and basic strength," he continued. "The condition I build up there will stand me in good condition for the first week of the Tour."

But, if one harbors ambitions of winning overall, then Stages 5 and 6, ending in Crans Montana and atop the Grimselpass, shall decide if you're a contender or pretender. However, just to keep the tension ticking till the last second, the final 33.7 kilometer time trial in Bern will determine just who has the last laugh.