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As every year for the Tour de France, we present our traditional rider-by-rider analysis, where we take a detailed look at all the cyclists who will start in Bilbao on July 1st. Here we will try to anticipate the intentions and objectives of each team for the most important race of the year. Here we go!

JUMBO-VISMA

The winner of the 2022 Tour, Jonas Vingegaard (1200), will attempt to defend the title, and the team provides him with a strong support squad. Wilco Kelderman (600), Sepp Kuss (600), Wout Van Aert (1200), and Tiesj Benoot (400) will be his best teammates on the mountains. Dylan Van Baarle (400) will be the road captain of the team, and Nathan Van Hooydonck (200), Christophe Laporte (1000), and Wout Van Aert (1200) have strong engines for controlling the flat stages. Laporte and Van Aert are likely to share the bunch sprint opportunities. Wout Van Aert has made statements saying that he will not contest the green jersey this time.

UAE TEAM EMIRATES

Tadej Pogačar (1200) will aim for his third Tour de France victory, and UAE Team Emirates presents a formation full of climbers to support him, including Marc Soler (600), Rafal Majka (600), Felix Grossschartner (400), and Adam Yates (1000). The team's directors may intend for Yates to avoid losing time in the overall standings in the early stages, in case Pogačar's wrist injury resurfaces. However, if everything goes well, the British rider will play a supporting role for the Slovenian. Mikkel Bjerg (400) is a strong time trialist to lead the peloton when needed, and Matteo Trentin (600) may have the freedom to pursue a stage victory from a breakaway or in a selective sprint. Vegard Stake Laengen (200) completes the team as a domestique.

INEOS GRENADIERS

It's great to see Egan Bernal (600) on the start list for the Tour, but it seems unlikely that the 2019 race champion will be able to compete for the general classification, as his results haven't been the same since the serious accident that kept him off the roads for almost a year. Safer options for the overall classification are Daniel Felipe Martínez (600) and Carlos Rodríguez (800). Meanwhile, Thomas Pidcock (800) will seek a stage win and likely try to wear the yellow jersey on the first day, as the route of the opening stage suits him well. The rest of the team, composed of Ben Turner (200), Michal Kwiatkowski (400), Jonathan Castroviejo (200), and Omar Fraile (200), seems destined to support their leaders. The team does not have a sprinter for the flat stages.

GROUPAMA-FDJ

The team is involved in controversy for not including Arnaud Démare in the Tour, and they enter their home race without any sprinter. David Gaudu (1000) is the leader for the general classification, while Thibaut Pinot (600) will try to secure a stage victory in his last Tour before retiring, and he is also a strong contender for the polka dot jersey. Valentin Madouas (400) and Stefan Küng (800) may also have the freedom to chase stage wins from breakaways, while Lars Van Den Berg (200), Olivier Le Gac (200), Quentin Pacher (400), and Kévin Geniets (200) are expected to work for their leader.

BORA HANSGROHE

After winning the 2022 Giro d'Italia, Jai Hindley (800) approaches the challenge of the Tour de France with optimism, especially since the route, with only one individual time trial, suits him. Emanuel Buchmann (200) and Patrick Konrad (400) are strong climbers to support Hindley, while the rest of the team focuses on sprints with Jordi Meeus (600). Danny Van Poppel (600) is one of the best lead-out men in the world and will be the last man in Meeus' train, which will also benefit from the work of Nils Politt (400), Bob Jungels (200), and Marco Haller (200). Politt and Jungels may also have the freedom to join breakaways in the medium mountain stages that Meeus cannot contest.

BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS

Mikel Landa (800) and Pello Bilbao (1000) are the team's leaders for the general classification, with Jack Haig (600) and Wout Poels (400) as the main mountain domestiques. Nikias Arndt (400) is a strong time trialist and can fulfill the role of road captain. Matej Mohorič (800) will likely have the freedom to join breakaways and try for a stage win, and Fred Wright (600) is a fast puncheur for uphill finishes. Phil Bauhaus (800) is the team's sprinter for bunch sprints.

AG2R CITROËN TEAM

The AG2R Citroën Team is built around Ben O'Connor (800), who aims for a high position in the general classification. To support him in the mountains, the team will bring three climbers: Clément Berthet (200), Felix Gall (600), and Aurélien Paret Peintre (400). Oliver Naesen (200) and Stan Dewulf (200) will play important roles as domestiques in the flat stages. Benoît Cosnefroy (400) will seek opportunities in punchy finishes, while Nans Peters (200) will have the freedom to join breakaways.

MOVISTAR TEAM

The Spanish team presents Enric Mas (1200) as the absolute leader for the general classification, and he is a strong candidate to reach the podium in Paris. Alex Aranburu (600) is the team's card for selective sprints. Matteo Jorgenson (800), Rubén Guerreiro (400), and Gregor Mühlberger (200) may have some freedom to compete for stage wins from breakaways, while Nelson Oliveira (200), Gorka Izagirre (200), and Antonio Pedrero (200) are expected to support their leader.

TEAM DSM - FIRMENICH

Romain Bardet (800) is clearly the leader of the team and he can aim for a high overall position, stage victories, or the mountain jersey, which he won in 2019. Sam Welsford (400) will be the team's sprinter and will be supported by a strong lead-out train consisting of John Degenkolb (200), Alexander Edmondson (200), Matthew Dinham (200), Nils Eekhoff (200), and Kevin Vervaeke (200). All of them may have the freedom to join breakaways on stages where a sprint finish is not expected. Chris Hamilton (200) completes the team and should provide support for Bardet in the mountain stages.

INTERMARCHÉ - CIRCUS WANTY

Biniam Girmay (800) leads the team for sprints and hilly stages, and he is a contender for the points classification. Adrien Petit (200), Mike Teunissen (600), and Dion Smith (200) will likely support him. The other four members of the team have climbing abilities. Louis Meintjes (400) is a candidate for a top 10 GC position, while Lilian Calmejane (200), Rui Costa (200), and Georg Zimmermann (400) will aim for a stage victory from breakaways.

LIDL-TREK

The new sponsor Lidl debuts in the Tour de France. Mads Pedersen (1200) is one of the top contenders for the green jersey of the points classification, while Mattias Skjelmose (1000) and Giulio Ciccone (800) are the team GC leaders. Jasper Stuyven (600) may try to wear the yellow jersey on the first week and will also play a crucial role in Pedersen's sprint train, where Alex Kirsch (200) is also a key piece. Quinn Simmons (600) is an attacking and combative rider who can show up in breakaways, and Juan Pedro López (600) is a strong climber who also likes to be in the spotlight. The team is completed by the experienced Tony Gallopin (200), who will be the road captain.

TEAM JAYCO ALULA

The team knows that Dylan Groenewegen (800) is their best chance of winning stages in sprints, and for that reason, they bring a powerful train consisting of Lawson Craddock (200), Luke Durbridge (200), Elmar Reinders (200), Christopher Juul Jensen (200), and Luka Mezgec (200) as the last man. Simon Yates (800) is the team leader for the general classification. Chris Harper (200) is also a good climber and should be Yates' last teammate in mountain stages.

ALPECIN - DECEUNINCK

Mathieu Van Der Poel (1000) will aim to wear the leader's jersey in the early days, just as he did in 2021. The team's second big star is Jasper Philipsen (1200), and the Belgian sprinter has ambitions for the green jersey in the points classification. Ramon Sinkeldam (200), Jonas Rickaert (200), Silvan Dilier (200), and Michael Gogl (200) will be part of Philipsen's train, with Van Der Poel likely to be the last lead-out man. Additionally, riders such as Quinten Hermans (400) and Soren Kragh Andersen (400) may have the freedom to seek stage victories from breakaways.

ASTANA QAZAQSTAN TEAM

Mark Cavendish (800) will seek his 35th stage win in the Tour, which would make him the sole record holder for the most stage wins in the history of the French race (currently tied with Eddy Merckx at 34). However, the team has only provided Cees Bol (400) as a lead-out rider for Cav. David De La Cruz (200), Luis León Sánchez (200), Gianni Moscon (200), and Alexey Lutsenko (400) are experienced riders who will try to join breakaways in search of a stage victory. Harold Tejada (200) is a good climber who can also contend for a stage win on a tough stage. Yevgeniy Fedorov (200) completes the team.

EF EDUCATION - EASYPOST

Richard Carapaz (1000) and Rigoberto Urán (600) are the team's protected riders, and they will initially strive for a good overall classification, although both are adaptable riders who can change their goals if things don't go as planned. Moreover, the team will target stage wins with several of their riders. Magnus Cort Nielsen (800), Neilson Powless (600), Alberto Bettiol (400), and Esteban Chaves (400) are top-level riders with distinct strengths, providing the team with various cards to play in different terrains of the race. James Shaw (200) and Andrey Amador (200) will join the Tour in support of their teammates.

SOUDAL - QUICK STEP

Julian Alaphilippe (800) shone in the Critérium du Dauphiné and seems to have regained his form from previous years. The early stages suit his characteristics as a puncher, and he is a candidate to wear the yellow jersey in the first week. Furthermore, the team relies on Fabio Jakobsen (1000) as their most reliable option to secure stage victories, and they will bring one of the best lead-out sprint trains in the race to support him: Rémi Cavagna (400), Yves Lampaert (400), Kasper Asgreen (400), and especially Michael Mørkøv (200) ensure that Jakobsen starts his sprints well-positioned. Completing the team are Dries Devenyns (200), who is Alaphilippe's inseparable companion, and Tim Declercq (200), who will be the team's designated rider to control breakaways and ensure sprint finishes.

ISRAEL - PREMIER TECH

The Israeli team presents a lineup full of stage hunters, and it is likely that the team's goal is to place riders in breakaways in as many stages as possible. Michael Woods (600) and Dylan Teuns (600) are the team's best climbers and will try their luck in the mountain stages, while Hugo Houle (200), Guillaume Boivin (200), Krists Neilands (200), and Simon Clarke (200) are strong roulers with a knack for being in the right breakaway. Nick Schultz (200) and Corbin Strong (400) are puncheurs with good sprinting capabilities and may play their chances in uphill finishes.

TOTALENERGIES

In his final season as a professional road cyclist, Peter Sagan (600) heads to the Tour with the intention of ending his spectacular career with a stage victory. In fact, the entire team aims to seek partial victories as they do not have a rider for the overall classification. Anthony Turgis (200) and Edvald Boasson Hagen (200) should look for their opportunities from breakaways in flat or medium mountain stages, while Mathieu Burgadeau (400) may have ambitions in uphill finishes due to his punch. Pierre Latour (400) will try his luck in mountain stages. Steff Cras (200), Valentin Ferron (200), and Daniel Oss (200) will go to the Tour as domestiques.

COFIDIS

Guillaume Martin (600) will lead the Cofidis team, perhaps with ambitions for a top 10 placement or targeting the polka dot jersey. Ion Izagirre (600) is also a strong climber who can attempt to secure a mountain stage victory, while Victor Lafay (400) and Axel Zingle (400) are punchy riders suited for medium mountain stages and short climbs. Bryan Coquard (600) will compete in the bunch sprints, especially if they have some incline, and Simon Gesche (200) is a good rider with an instinct for joining the right breakaway. Completing the team are Alexis Renard (200) and Anthony Perez (200), who will be in service of their team.

TEAM ARKÉA SAMSIC

The ambition of the French team is to win a stage, so they present a lineup with riders of diverse profiles. Warren Barguil (400) and Clément Champoussin (400) will try to get into breakaways in medium and high mountain stages, while the team directors believe that the endurance of Matîs Louvel (200) and Jenthe Biermans (200) will allow them to contest stages in the third week. Luca Mozzato (400) will be the team's sprinter. Laurent Pichon (200), Anthony Delaplace (200), and Simon Guglielmi (200) will be in service of their teammates.

UNO-X PRO CYCLING TEAM

The Norwegian team makes its Tour debut and brings all the firepower available. Alexander Kristoff (800) and Soren Waerenskjold (200) can both sprint, while Anthon Charmig (200), Torstein Traen (200), and especially Tobias Halland Johansen (400) are good climbers who may target a good overall position or a mountain stage win if they loose considerable time. Jonas Greegard (200) is a regular in breakaways and can go after mountain classification points in the early weeks, while Rasmus Tiller (200) is a strong classics rider for the opening days and is in good form. Jonas Abrahamsen (200) completes the team.

LOTTO - DSTNY

The strongest option for a stage victory in the Belgian team is Australian sprinter Caleb Ewan (600), and the team has assembled a dedicated team around him. The lead-out train consists of Pascal Eenkhoorn (200), Florian Vermeersch (200), Victor Campenaerts (200), Frederik Frison (200), Jacopo Guarnieri (200), and Jasper De Buyst (200). Vermeersch, Eenkhoorn, and especially Campenaerts may also try to join breakaways. Maxim Van Gils (400) completes the team and is a strong puncher for the first week.

Photo: © Tour de France