Hey, the Tour de France is just around the corner! It starts Sunday Saturday. Each year, I like to introduce Bike Noob readers to the teams in the Tour, because their European corporate sponsor names are probably unfamiliar to most Americans. This year is interesting, because of several new teams in the Tour, and four U.S.-based teams. Lance Armstrong rides in his last Tour, and just might contend.
Twenty-two teams are riding this year. Today, we’ll profile half of them, by alphabetical order. The remaining teams will go up Thursday.
The Tour starts on Saturday. What a noob.
Right. I knew that. Saturday. That’s July 3rd.
Ah, the world cup of cycling. I wonder why more countries don’t sponsor teams. Are professional cyclists that mercenary?
Great post. Can’t wait for SATURDAY.
Great idea. Thanks.
Thanks for the team roundup! I look forward to reading more of your TdF posts.
Fyi: Oscar Pereiro was left off of Astana’s 2010 TdF team.
The first time I saw a “footon” rider I did think he was partially naked.. got to be the most “butt ugly” kit I’ve ever seen.
Hi,
Good post! A couple of comments thought. Saying Basques are “ethnically” different from Spanish is a bit of a joke. What do you mean by that? Are they oriental looking? or do they have a sixth finger?
Also, saying Euskatel is the “unofficial” national team of the Basque Country is another big joke, when they have riders from all around Spain, and their team leader for the Tour (Samuel Sanchez) is from Asturias, another region in the north.
I wonder about the consistency of your listing when you mention the procedence of the teams. Is Euskatel a Spanish team or not? If you mention regions, say that Caisse D’Epargne comes from the Balearic Islands, Cofidis comes from Lyon, etc. Otherwise, your listing is not consistent if you mix regions with countries.
The basque people are as spanish as the Cherokee are Americans.
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