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How many teams compete in the Tour de France?

By Amy Kaplan

BELLINZONA, SWITZERLAND - JUNE 16: Arrival / Sprint / Arnaud Demare of France and Team Groupama FDJ / Fernando Gaviria of Colombia and Team Quick-Step Floors / Peter Sagan of Slovakia and Team Bora - Hansgrohe / during the 82nd Tour of Switzerland 2018, Stage 8 a a 123,8km stage from Bellinzona to Bellinzona on June 16, 2018 in Bellinzona, Switzerland. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)
BELLINZONA, SWITZERLAND - JUNE 16: Arrival / Sprint / Arnaud Demare of France and Team Groupama FDJ / Fernando Gaviria of Colombia and Team Quick-Step Floors / Peter Sagan of Slovakia and Team Bora - Hansgrohe / during the 82nd Tour of Switzerland 2018, Stage 8 a a 123,8km stage from Bellinzona to Bellinzona on June 16, 2018 in Bellinzona, Switzerland. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images) /
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How many teams compete in the Tour de France?

This year’s Tour de France is the 105th in the history of the race and will take place from Saturday,  July 7 through Sunday, July 29, but exactly how many teams will be competing, and where are they from?

In accordance with Union Cycliste Internationale rules, the eighteen UCI WorldTeams are automatically invited to the race, and four teams are added as “wildcards.”

18 core teams are:

  • AG2R La Mondiale (FRA)
  • Astana Pro Team (KAZ)
  • Bahrain – Merida (BRN)
  • BMC Racing Team (USA)
  • Bora – Hansgrohe (GER)
  • FDJ (FRA)
  • Lotto Soudal (BEL)
  • Mitchelton- Scott (AUS)
  • Movistar Team (ESP)
  • Quick-Step Floors (BEL)
  • Team Dimension Data (ZAF)
  • Team EF Education First – Drapac P/B Cannondale (USA)
  • Team Katusha – Alpecin (CHE)
  • Team Lotto NL – Jumbo (NER)
  • Team Sky (GBR)
  • Team Sunweb (GER)
  • Trek – Segafredo (USA)
  • UAE Team Emirates (UAE)

Wildcards:

  • Cofidis, Solutions Crédits (FRA)
  • Direct Energie (FRA)
  • Team Fortuneo – Samsic (FRA)
  • Wanty – Groupe Gobert (BEL)

Team breakdowns by county:

  • FRA: 5
  • USA: 3
  • BEL: 3
  • GER: 2
  • KAZ: 1
  • BRN: 1
  • AUS: 1
  • ESP: 1
  • ZAF: 1
  • CHE: 1
  • NER: 1
  • GBR: 1
  • UAE: 1

France takes the lead with a whopping five teams (though three of those are wildcards), with the United States holding three.

The race takes place over 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,351 kilometers (approx. 2082 miles). For the most part, the race will take place in France, though there will be a small stint of approx. nine miles which will stretch into Spain. There are 11 cities/stages that have never been a part of the race prior (Fontenay-le-Comte, Mouilleron-Saint-Germain, Sarzeau, Dreux), La Rosière, Trie-sur-Baïse, Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle, Espelette, and Houilles.

The race starts in Noirmoutier-en-l’Île and will end in Paris Champs-Élysées.

The winner of the tour will win 500,000 Euro which translates to just over $580,000.

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