TOM BOONEN’S hopes of Tour de France glory appear over after a French court refused to overturn his ban for drug-taking.

The 2005 World Road Race Champion and 2007 Tour points winner was banned from the big race, which begins in Monaco on Saturday, for a second successive year by organisers Amaury Sports Organisation (ASO) after he tested positive for cocaine in an out-of-competition doping test.

The Belgian then launched an appeal against ASO in a bid to get back in the saddle for Le Tour but the tribunal in Nanterre, France declared today that they were not able to make a ruling on the matter.

Boonen’s lawyer insists they have not given up on the hope that the Quick Step rider could take his place in the starting line-up on Saturday and that they will take the case to the Court of Arbitration of the French Olympic Committee.

“The judge has informed us that the French court does not have the legal basis to rule in this case,” Jean-Louis Dupont said.

“We’re going to work on it, that’s a certainty. There’s an urgency.”

Meanwhile, seven-time champion Lance Armstrong has been warned he might have to play second fiddle to 2007 Tour-winning team-mate Alberto Contador this year.

The Astana rider is making his comeback in Le Tour after a four-year break. But r British rival David Millar believes Armstrong will have to get in line to support Contador, who is seen as the team’s main man.

“He has the opportunity to cement his legacy, ironically, in defeat,” said Millar, who is competing for Garmin-Slipstream.

“I think this year’s Tour is going to do his popularity in France a world of good, because if he doesn’t win then the French will love him, as long as he shows character and resilience.”