2009 Tour de France teams announced

By Yokota Fritz


The 20 teams making up the 2009 Tour de France were officially announced today. The 96th Tour de France begins July 4 in Monaco. Team Astana, which was banned from the 2008 Tour, received in invitation for 2009. USA teams on the list are Garmin-Chipotle and Columbia High Road, both of which participated last year.

Fuji Servetto (nee Saunier Duval) was the only ProTour team excluded from selection in the wake of doping scandals last year.

Germany
Team Milram (MRM)

Belgium
Quick Step (QST)
Silence - Lotto (SIL)

Denmark
Team Saxo Bank (SAX)

Spain
Caisse d’Epargne (GCE)
Euskaltel - Euskadi (EUS)

United States
Garmin - Slipstream (GRM)
Team Columbia – High Road (THR)

France
AG2R La Mondiale (ALM)
Agritubel (AGR)
BBox Bouygues Telecom (BTL)
Cofidis, Le Crédit en Ligne (COF)
Française des Jeux (FDJ)

Italy
Lampre – N.G.C. (LAM)
Liquigas (LIQ)
Kazakhstan
Astana (AST)

Netherlands
Rabobank (RAB)
Skil-Shimano (SKS)

Russia
Team Katusha (KAT)

Switzerland
Cervélo Test Team (CTT)