Fifteen teams will take part in the 83th edition of Criterium International. The two-day race will take place in Porto Vecchio on the Island of Corsica from the 29th of March to the 30th of March. The winner of last year’s edition, Chris Froome can’t defend his win, as Sky Procycling won’t participate.

In fact, none of the riders on the podium of last year will be able to defend their places. Richie Porte followed his teammate Chris Froome and Sky succeeded in making an incredible 1-2. American Tejay Van Garderen finished third last year, but just as Sky, BMC Racing Team will not be on Corsica either.

Many of the big stars of the peloton did the race last year, as the race traditionally is placed in Porto-Vecchio on the island of Corsica. The 2013 edition of Tour de France started in Corsica as well and many of the teams used the race to check the terrain of the Island.  The first three stages of the Tour were held in Corsica, which had never happened before.

This doesn’t mean that the edition of this year won’t have participation of any big teams. Trek Factory Racing, Tinkoff-Saxo, Team Europcar, Garmin-Sharp and Giant-Shimano will be there. Trek Factory Racing has riders with a great deal of success in the race. German veteran Jens Voigt has won the race five times and is the record holder of most wins together with Emile Idée and Raymond Poulidor. The elder of the two Schleck brothers, Fränk Schleck, won the race two years ago. Since then, the team hasn’t been on the podium.

Here is the full list of team, which will be participating:
 

Colombia Pro Cycling (COL) 

Team NetApp – Endura (GER) 

AG2R La Mondiale (FRA)

Bigmat - Auber 93 (FRA)

Bretagne – Séché Environnement (FRA)

Cofidis, Solutions Crédits (FRA)

FDJ.fr (FRA)

Team Europcar (FRA)

Team La Pomme Marseille 13 (FRA)

Astana Pro Team (KAZ) 

Team Giant – Shimano (NLD)

Tinkoff-Saxo (RUS)

IAM Cycling (SWI)

Garmin Sharp (USA)

Trek Factory Racing (USA)

Here are the stages presented with km and date:

Saturday, March 29:

Stage 1: Porto-Vecchio > Porto-Vecchio, 89 km

Stage 2: Porto-Vecchio > Porto Vecchio, 7 km (ITT) 

Sunday, March 30:

Stage 3: Porto-Vecchio > Col de l'Ospedale, 176 km