Cycling: The ASO has just announced the wildcards for the 2016 Tour de France. On July 2nd, the same teams as last year will start at Mont-Saint-Michel. This also automatically means that the German second divisioner Bora-Argon 18 is back at the Grand Boucle.
Update June 2016: All information about the Tour de France 2016
There were no surprises today when organizer ASO announced the invitations to the Tour de France. The four most coveted wildcards of the season this year go to the three French ProContinental teams Cofidis, Solutions Crédits, Direct Energie and Fortuneo - Vital Concept. As the only non-French second division, the German racing team from Bora-Argon 18 receives an invitation to the largest bicycle race in the world. Ralph Denk's team will be there for the third time in a row. Of course, the team manager is delighted: “Of course this is great news! To be invited to the most important cycling event in the world for the third time in a row is a great honor, for which I would also like to thank the ASO. But it is also proof that we have always presented ourselves well and performed well in recent years.”
With the strong Irish sprinter Sam Bennett and the German climbing duo Emanuel Buchmann and Dominik Nerz, they want to cause a sensation again this year, after Buchmann in particular made the headlines in 2015 with his strong performances. But team manager Denk is also aware that there is still a long way to go for the team and the pros before the start of July: "But the most important thing is that everyone stays healthy during the preparation and that we are spared falls and illnesses on the tour."
Direct Energie was still at the start under the name Europcar last year, and Fortuneo – Vital Concept has been given a new name since last season (formerly Bretagne Séché Environment). Cofidis is already a regular guest at the Tour and in Nacer Bouhanni has a man in the ranks who is good for one or more victories on the flat stages. MTN-Qhubeka received the fifth wild card last year – with its promotion to the WorldTour as Dimension Data, the South African team has now secured its starting place this season anyway.
Overview teams Tour de France 2016
WorldTour
- AG2R La Mondiale (Fra)
- Astana Pro Team (Kaz)
- BMC Racing Team (USA)
- Cannondale Pro Cycling Team (USA)
- Dimension Data (RSA)
- Etixx – Quick Step (Bel)
- FDJ (Woman)
- IAM Cycling (Sui)
- Lampre – Merida (Ita)
- Lotto Soudal (Bel)
- Movistar Team (Span)
- Orica GreenEDGE (Off)
- Team Giant – Alpecin (Ger)
- Team Katusha (Russia)
- Team Lotto NL – Jumbo (Nld)
- Team Sky (GBR)
- Tinkoff (Russia)
- Trek - Segafredo (USA)
ProContinental
- Bora – Argon 18 (Ger)
- Cofidis, Solutions Credits (Fr)
- Direct Energy (Fr)
- Fortuneo – Vital Concept (Fra)
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