Team Leaders: Matti Breschel (76 FL, 80 COB, 75 SP); Óscar Freire (76 FL, 75 HIL, 77 SP); Robert Gesink (81 MO, 78 HIL, 75 TT)
Rabobank is one of the most well-rounded teams in the peloton. The departure of Denis Menchov means Robert Gesink is the unquestioned leader for the Tour, and fellow Dutch riders Steven Kruijswijk and Bauke Mollema will be there to support him. All three are younger than 25. Matti Breschel and Luis León Sánchez were added to compete in the cobbles and to be a jack of all trades, respectively. Óscar Freire is the old man of the team as he turns 35 in February, but he just won Milano-Sanremo for the third time in 2010.
Team Leaders: Alberto Contador (83 MO, 80 HIL, 79 TT); Nick Nuyens (76 FL, 76 HIL, 79 COB)
Last year's team champions in the UCI World Ranking have an entirely new look after the creation of Leopard Trek. Most of the top riders have departed, but management was aggressive and secured the services of Alberto Contador, three-time Tour winner. Contador is the unquestioned best climber in the world and can even time trial at an elite level. Saxo Bank SunGard may try to run him in the Giro and/or Vuelta, though, as the cast behind him is not quite as accomplished. Nick Nuyens also joined the team to lead their classics campaign but will have little help on the cobbles.
Team Leaders: Juan Antonio Flecha (80 FL, 81 COB); Edvald Boasson Hagen (76 HIL, 78 TT, 80 SP); Bradley Wiggins (78 MO, 75 HIL, 81 TT)
The first season for Sky ProCycling was underwhelming. The goal of getting a British rider in yellow in Paris looked a long way off as the only rider who appears even remotely capable, Bradley Wiggins, was a non-factor for most of the season outside of the opening time trial at the Giro. The lone bright spot was Edvald Boasson Hagen, who was responsible for more than half of the team's UCI World Ranking points. Only 23, he has a bright future in the classics and sprints.
Team Garmin - Cervélo
Team Leaders: Tyler Farrar (80 FL, 74 COB, 82 SP); Thor Hushovd (80 FL, 82 COB, 78 SP); Christian Vande Velde (77 MO, 76 TT)
Many riders from the former Cervélo TestTeam have found their way over to Team Garmin - Cervélo, including reigning world champion road racer Thor Hushovd. They will join the strongest American contingent of the four teams registered there, including elite sprinter Tyler Farrar, who captured two stage wins in both the Giro and the Vuelta last year.
Team RadioShack
Team Leaders: Chris Horner (77 MO, 79 HIL, 74 TT); Andreas Klöden (77 MO, 76 HIL, 79 TT); Levi Leipheimer (77 MO, 76 HIL, 78 TT)
The team goes on after the retirement of Lance Armstrong. However, a squad built to compete for the GC in stage races does not have talent as it stands to do so if the competition is at 100 percent. Team RadioShack also lacks any cobbles riders or top sprinters. The experience of the oldest team in the peloton will have to make up for the top-end talent they lack in 2011.
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
Team Leaders: Romain Feillu (74 FL, 77 SP); Björn Leukemans (76 FL, 77 HIL, 80 COB); Ezequiel Mosquera (79 MO, 76 HIL)
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team has become a UCI ProTeam but faces a tough road ahead. Björn Leukemans always finishes near the front on the cobbles but has no major wins to his credit. The team did bring in Ezequiel Mosquera to compete in the Vuelta, as he has finished in the top five in each of the last four editions, including placing second last season.
A few other team in the UCI Continental Circuits will impact the 2011 season, particular as wild cards in the grand tours, and may themselves get promoted in 2012 and beyond.
Androni Giocattoli
Team Leaders: José Rujano (81 MO, 74 HIL); Ángel Vicioso (73 MO, 75 HIL, 73 SP)
The departure of Michele Scarponi has led to Androni Giocattoli bringing in José Rujano. Rujano placed third in the Giro back in 2005 and will set his sights on the race again now six years later. Ángel Vicioso also joins the team and will likely look for stage wins in the Giro.
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
Team Leaders: David Moncoutié (76 MO, 75 HIL); Rein Taaramäe (76 MO, 74 HIL, 75 TT)
The iconic French team is once again led by David Moncoutié, who turns 36 this year but is still going strong. Moncoutié has won a stage and the climbers jersey in the last three editions of the Vuelta, including the first polka dot jersey awarded for the first time since its redesign last year. Cofidis also has an eye on the future with young Rein Taaramäe, who has been competitive in week-long races and will set his sights on the Tour in 2011.
FDJ
Team Leaders: Sandy Casar (75 MO, 75 HIL); Pierrick Fédrigo (72 MO, 75 HIL)
Though the sponsor has remained the same since the '90's, the newly rebranded FDJ won stages in the Tour and Vuelta last year. Sandy Casar has won three stages of the Tour, as has new team member Pierrick Fédrigo. Though they don't have a team to compete for many overall wins in any UCI ProTour races they get invited to since being demoted following last season, FDJ is one of the most aggressive teams in the professional peloton to try and overachieve.
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
Team Leaders: Oscar Gatto (74 HIL, 75 SP); Giovanni Visconti (72 MO, 77 HIL, 72 SP)
With the departure of José Rujano, Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli is built entirely around Giovanni Visconti. Visconti is the two time defending individual champion in the UCI Europe Tour and the current Italian road race champion. He can win one-day races and stage races, such as last year's Tour of Turkey.
Geox - TMC
Team Leaders: Juan José Cobo (74 MO, 75 HIL); Denis Menchov (79 MO, 76 HIL, 78 TT); Carlos Sastre (76 MO, 76 HIL, 73 TT)
New sponsors have led to the acquisitions of some big names, including winners of all three grand tours. Carlos Sastre won the 2008 Tour and finished in the top ten in both the Giro and Vuelta last year. Denis Menchov won the 2007 Vuelta and 2009 Giro and also placed third in last year's Tour. The two will try to finish as well as they can in the grand tours if their new team can secure wild card invites to each of the races, which it did in 2010.
Saur - Sojasun
Team Leaders: Jimmy Casper (75 FL, 70 COB, 75 SP); Jérôme Coppel (76 MO, 73 HIL, 75 TT); Jonathan Hivert (73 MO, 74 HIL)
24-year-old Jérôme Coppel is one of the young Frenchmen who has the potential to become a yellow jersey contender one day and will contribute to his team making its first Tour de France if they are invited. Coppel placed in the top ten in both the Critérium du Dauphiné and Paris-Nice last year.
Skil - Shimano
Team Leaders: Marcel Kittel (74 FL, 71 TT, 76 SP); Kenny Van Hummel (75 FL, 76 SP)
The Dutch team enters its seventh season without any major results at the top level. Skil - Shimano was invited to just one grand tour, the 2009 Tour. That may soon change with the promotion of Marcel Kittel to professional status for the 2011 season. Kittel was a time trial specialist as a junior cyclist but has potential to compete in bunch sprints like team leader Kenny Van Hummel with the proper development.
Team Europcar
Team Leaders: Pierre Rolland (77 MO, 74 HIL); Thomas Voeckler (76 MO, 77 HIL)
Thomas Voeckler has won stages in the last two editions of the Tour, but nothing will ever compare to his career highlight of spending ten days in yellow in 2004. He will wear the French national champion's jersey to start the year after winning the road race for the second time last season. Young Pierre Rolland has also gotten a taste of the Tour, with two starts under his belt already at 24. The team will look to make a name for themselves in July with Europcar now taking over sponsorship of the team.
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