Corsica is ready to host a preamble with some of the Tour de France favourites, as the Critérium International comes to the island for the fourth time on March 23 and 24.

The names of Tour de France champions Cadel Evans (BMC), Alberto Contador (Saxo-Tinkoff) and Andy Schleck (RadioShack-Leopard) will not go unnoticed on the start list of the Critérium International, but no-one knows how many future winners are on the list —it would be quite a surprise if the riders who have shown flashes of promise here and there over the last few months failed to shine next July or, at least, in the coming years. With less than 100 days to go until the 100th edition of the Tour de France, these go-getters will get the opportunity to steal the show on the roads of Corsica in a three-stage race which also tends to smile upon the best all-rounders. Returning champion Cadel Evans is not necessarily the odds-on favourite to win this strategic battle. The focus of attention will be on the winners of the first big events of this season. Chris Froome came out on top of the fierce competition at the Tour of Oman, while his Sky teammate, Richie Porte, took his first prestigious victory just a few days ago in Paris–Nice.

A handful of champions in the making have already done their best to upset their plans on several occasions and will no doubt try again in Corsica, including the last two winners of the best young rider's white jersey at the Tour de France, Tejay Van Garderen (BMC) and Pierre Rolland (Europcar), and the winner of the same jersey at the recent Paris–Nice, Andrew Talansky (Garmin-Sharp). The American has the quality and frame of mind he needs to make up for the disappointment of finishing as runner-up on the French Riviera.

In terms of French hopes of success, the week-long Race to the Sun also saw a French charge by third-placed Jean-Christophe Péraud (AG2R), as well as his young teammate Romain Bardet and even younger Warren Barguil. The changes made to the time trial course could play in their favour in Porto-Vecchio if they make the most of the slope in the first two kilometres. This is unlikely to help national champion Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ), but he will get his chance in the stage on Saturday morning.

Participating teams and their expected GC riders:

AG2R La Mondiale (ALM): Bardet, Péraud, Gadret (FRA)

Blanco Pro Cycling Team (BLA): Bos, Kelderman (NED), Bobridge (AUS), L. L. Sánchez (ESP)

BMC Racing Team (BMC): Evans (AUS), Moinard (FRA), Van Garderen (USA)

Bretagne-SecheEnvironnement (BSE): Koretzky, Lequatre, Vachon (FRA)

Cofidis, Solutions Crédits (COF): Coppel (FRA), Taaramäe (EST)

Colombia (COL): Atapuma, Pantano (COL)

FDJ (FDJ): Fédrigo, Bouhanni (FRA)

Garmin-Sharp (GRS): Talansky (USA), Martin (IRL)

IAM Cycling (IAM): Denifl (AUT), Tschopp (SUI)

RadioShack-Nissan (RLT): A. Schleck (LUX), Monfort (BEL), Klöden, Voigt (GER)

Sky ProCycling (SKY): Froome (GBR), Porte (AUS)

Sojasun (SOJ): Hivert, Pauriol (FRA)

Team Argos-Shimano (ARG): Barguil (FRA), Geschke (GER)

Team Europcar (EUC): Rolland, Voeckler (FRA)

Team La Pomme Marseille (LPM): Gonçalves (POR)

Team Saxo-Tinkoff (TST): Contador (ESP), Rogers (AUS)