Tour de France organiser ASO has named the four wild card invitations to this year’s race, with French squads Cofidis, Fortuneo-Vital Concept and Belgium’s Wanty-Groupe Gobert securing the precious invitations to the biggest race of the season.
This year’s Tour de France starts in Dusseldorf, Germany on July 1 and ends in Paris on July 23. It follows an unconventional route that includes stages in all of France's mountain ranges but with only an opening 13km time trial in Dusseldorf and a final 23km time trial in Marseille on stage 20.
As with WorldTour rules, the 18 WorldTour teams are automatically invited, meaning there will again be 22 teams in action in the Tour de France.
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The 18 WorldTour teams are: AG2R La Mondiale, Astana, Bahrain – Merida, BMC, Bora – Hansgrohe, Cannondale Drapac, FDJ, Lotto Soudal, Movistar, Orica – Scott, Quick-Step Floors, Dimension Data, Katusha – Alpecin, Lotto NL – Jumbo, Team Sky, Team Sunweb, Trek – Segafredo (USA) and UAE Abu Dhabi.
Chris Froome (Team Sky) will target a fourth victory in July, with Nairo Quintana (Movistar) confirming he will take on the Briton after also riding the Giro d’Italia. Other expected contenders are Alberto Contador (Trek-Segafredo), Richie Porte (BMC) and Romain Bardet (AG2r-La Mondiale).
The wild card invitation for Direct Energie means that Thomas Voeckler will be able to ride a final Tour de France before retiring and Bryan Coquard can contest the sprint finishes.
Teams for Paris-Nice and Criterium di Dauphine
— Le Tour de France (@LeTour) January 26, 2017
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