The organisers of the Tour de France have confirmed the names of the teams that will line up for this year's race, with French teams Cofidis, Solutions Credits, Direct Energie, Fortuneo-Samsic and Wanty-Groupe Gobert of Belgium securing the four wild card invitations to compete alongside the 18 WorldTour teams.
The Vital Concept team, which is the new home to French sprinter Bryan Coquard, has missed out on a place in the Tour, but was given the consolation of a place in the Criterium du Dauphine (June 3-10). Cofidis, Fortuneo-Samsic and Wanty-Groupe Gobert were also invited to the Criterium du Dauphine, with Direct Energie overlooked.
Cofidis, Delko Marseille, Direct Energie and Fortuneo-Samsic are the four teams invited to Paris-Nice (March 4-11).
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This year's Tour starts on July 7 in the Vendee region of western France and passes through Brittany and the north before visiting the Alps and the Pyrenees, and finishing in Paris on July 29.
Vital Concept was created for 2018 by former rider Jerome Pineau. He had hoped the arrival of Coquard – who missed the 2017 Tour due to his bitter divorce from Direct Energie – would be enough to secure an invitation to the Tour de France in their first season.
The strong showing of Wanty-Groupe Gobert in the 2017 Tour de France, however, meant that the Belgian team could not be overlooked for this year's race. Wanty-Groupe Gobert fielded a team composed entirely of Tour debutants in 2017, and all nine riders made it to Paris after frequently going on the attack.
Disappointment for Coquard
— Le Tour de France (@LeTour) January 8, 2018
— Wanty-Groupe Gobert (@TeamWantyGobert) January 8, 2018
— Team COFIDIS (@TeamCOFIDIS) January 8, 2018
— Team Direct Energie (@TeamDEN_fr) January 8, 2018
— Team Fortuneo Samsic (@Fortuneo_Samsic) January 8, 2018
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