The 2023 Tour de France: Teams, invites, and route highlights
The race schedule aimed to stay dynamic, keeping all participants alert and focused as planning unfolded. Invitations went out for the stage races that would precede the main event, with routes touching Euskadi before finishing in the French Basque region around Bayonne. The idea was to keep the competitive tension high while the riders prepared for the demands of the Tour itself and its unique Basque leg.
The surprise element of the year came from the Norwegian squad X-Uno, a notable addition given their modest prior results. Seventeen teams were expected to compete for a spot among the sport’s elite, and X-Uno found themselves in a position to enter the Tour despite not yet having achieved major victories in the season. The lineup emphasized young talent drawn from the Norwegian and Danish development programs, with leadership from riders such as Alexander Kristoff, who had previously played a key role in the 2020 edition, which was paused by the pandemic, and was looking to add a new chapter to his career in this reconfigured campaign.
all of israel
The organizers also sought to honor Israel while managing the realities of relegation from the top tier due to last year’s results. Chris Froome, a veteran rider who has endured a fall and a long road back to form since his 2019 Paris triumphs, remained part of the equation. Froome’s return to a high level in 2022, including a podium at Alpe d’Huez, was noted as a sign of his ongoing recovery and resilience, even if the broader field had moved on from his peak years. The year’s withdrawals and comebacks were framed as a testament to the enduring drama of the sport.
Welcome messages circulated on social channels, highlighting support for the participating teams and showcasing the collaborative spirit of the event. The organizers highlighted Bilbao as a key host city and acknowledged the presence of the 18 World Teams, along with squads like Lotto Dstny and Israel Premier Tech as part of the broader lineup. The official communications captured the excitement and the anticipation surrounding the race, even as the teams prepared for the battles ahead.
—Tour de France—
On paper, the initial selections did not penalize participation in the Round, since another team that had dropped from the top tier, a Belgian squad, would also be present in the Big Loop for 2023. The process reflected the mix of nerves, careful preparation, and the deliberate sacrifice riders make to accumulate points across top-tier and second-tier events, a dynamic that continues to shape the competitive landscape of the sport.
18 UCI World Teams
The 2023 Tour would feature 18 World Teams, with Movistar sponsored by Enric Mas and guests like Lotto, Israel Premier Tech, and TotalEnergies, alongside the emerging X-Uno in the lineup. Names and sponsorships continued to evolve throughout the season as teams rebranded and aligned with new partners to reflect the evolving sponsorship market in professional cycling.
Some teams adjusted their branding due to sponsorship changes, which helped fans recognize the teams in the new campaign. Examples included Bike Exchange Australia rebranding to Jayco, and the Saudi-backed squad Quick Step adopting the Saudal–Quick Step moniker. Despite these shifts, the core roster strategies and ambitions often remained consistent, with leadership structures and developmental plans continuing to guide performance across the season.