As usual, the cycling season in France will start at the Grand Prix La Marseillaise. The Southern race which will be ten kilometers longer than in 2016, confirmed the presence of several teams on Tuesday. 

The eponymous newspaper indicates that "16 teams have already committed to the event". All the professional teams from France, FDJ, AG2R-La Mondiale, Direct Energie, Fortuneo-Vital Concept, Cofidis, Delko-Marseille Provence-KTM, Roubaix-Lille Métropole, HP BTP-Auber 93 and Armee will all be present.

The Belgian teams Lotto-Soudal, Vérandas Willems-Crelan, Wanty-Gobert Group, WB-Veranclassic-Aqua Protect, Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise are also confirmed are An Post-ChainReaction and Roth-Akros. 

In 2016 Dries Devenyns, then at IAM Cycling and in 2017 at Quick Step Floors, won ahead of Thibaut Pinot (FDJ). The Belgian will not be able to defend his title in 2017 since his new team will not be at the start of the race. Like in 2016, Thibaut Pinot will start his season in Marseille.