Four-time champion Chris Froome’s team Israel Premier Tech and Uno-X of Norway full the line-up for this yr’s Tour de France after organisers issued invitations as wild cards to compete on Wednesday.
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The two wild playing cards apart, the opposite 20 groups (made up of eight riders apiece) mechanically qualify with the 18 from the WorldTour and the 2 top-ranked groups within the second tier ProTeams that are Belgian outfit Lotto and TotalEnergies from France.
“Sometimes the choice is a tough one, however this time it is not,” race director Christian Prudhomme instructed AFP.
“A noticeable hole has grown between the highest 22 groups and the others which is regrettable.
“Israel Premier Tech gained two levels on the final Tour de France. It is a team full of expertise and re-enforced with the signing of Dylan Teuns.
“Uno-X is a more moderen arrival with a robust id attributable to solely having Norwegian and Danish riders.
“They have signed a legend of Norwegian cycling Alexander Kristoff, and also have in their ranks the 2021 Tour de l’Avenir champion, Tobias Halland Johannessen.”
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France has the largest illustration with 5 groups – one fewer than the three earlier editions – Belgium has 4 with the Netherlands and United States having two every.
The race will get underway in Bilbao, Spain, on July 1 and finishes in Paris on July 23.
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TOUR DE FRANCE TEAMS
Qualified:
WorldTour: AG2R Citroen (FRA), Alpecin (BEL), Arkea-Samsic (FRA), Astana (KAZ), Bahrain (BRN), BikeExchange – Jayco (AUS), Bora (GER), Cofidis (FRA), DSM (NED), Education First (USA), Groupama-FDJ (FRA), Ineos (GBR), Intermarche (BEL), Jumbo (NED), Movistar (ESP), Quick-Step (BEL), Trek (USA), UAE (UAE)
ProTeams:
Lotto (BEL), TotalEnergies (FRA)
Invited:
Israel Premier Tech (ISR), Uno-X (NOR)
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