There were no surprises this morning when ASO,  the organisers of the Tour de France ANOUNCED the teams that will take part in the 103rd edition of the Tour de France (July 2-24). In accordance with Union Cycliste Internationale rules, the WorldTours teams are automatically invited to this race. 

As usual, ASO have given priority to French teams. The Cofidis team of Nacer Bouhanni, the Direct Energie of French sprinter Bryan Coquard and the Fortuneo Vital Concept of Eduardo Sepulveda have all been granted one of the four wildcards invited to the French three-week race. The only foreign team to make the cut is the Bora-Argon 18 squad of Irish sprinter Sam Bennett. Hence, the wild cards were given to the same four team that got an invitation for the 2015 edition of the race.

The route for the 2016 Tour de France was unveiled in October. It contains two time trial events, both of which are individual. There are five mountain stages, four of which have summit finishes: stage 9 to Andorra-Arcalis; stage 12 to Mont Ventoux; stage 17 to Finhaut Émosson and stage 19 to Saint-Gervais-les-Bains. 

World Tour:

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 (Fra)
IAM Cycling (Sui)
Lampre - Merida (Ita)
Lotto Soudal (Bel)
Movistar Team (Esp)
Orica GreenEDGE (Aus)
Team Giant - Alpecin (Ger)
Team Katusha (Rus)
Team Lotto NL - Jumbo (Nld)
Team Sky (GBR)
Tinkoff (Rus)
Trek – Segafredo (USA)

Wild cards :

Bora - Argon 18 (Ger)
Cofidis- Solutions Crédits (Fra)
Direct Energie (Fra)
Fortunéo - Vital Concept (Fra)