March 20/08 11:20 am - ASO Announces Teams for 2008 Tour de France

Posted by Editor on 03/20/08
 

ASO Announces Teams for 2008 Tour de France

Tour de France organizer Amaury Sports Organization has released the list of the 20 teams that they are inviting to this year's Tour. There were no real surprises on the list - all ProTour squads were invited with the exception of Astana, whom ASO had already said would not be invited. Three teams from the Continental Pro ranks were invited: Agritubel, Barloworld and Slipstream-Chipotle. This means that potentially there could be two Canadians in the Tour - Michael Barry (High Road) and Ryder Hesjedal (Slipstream-Chipotle). The national break down of teams will see 6 French squads. 3 from Spain, 2 each from Germany, Belgium, the U.S. and Italy, and one each from Denmark, Great Britain and the Netherlands.

The teams:

AG2R (France)
Agritubel (France - Continental Pro)
Barloworld (Great Britain - Continental Pro)
Bouygues Telecom (France)
Caisse d'Epargne (Spain)
Cofidis (France)
Credit Agricole (France)
CSC (Denmark)
Euskaltel (Spain)
Francaise des Jeux (France)
Gerolsteiner (Germany)
High Road (USA)
Lampre (Italy)
Liquigas (Italy)
Milram (Germany)
Quick Step (Belgium)
Rabobank (Netherlands)
Saunier Duval (Spain)
Silence (Belgium)
Slipstream-Chipotle (USA - Continental Pro)