Banesto (Spain)
Sponsor: National banking corporation
Bicycle: Pinarello
Directeur sportif: José Miguel Echavarri
Leaders:
BLANCO, Santiago (Sp), born June 13, 1974.
Making Tour debut. (Placed 3rd in the 1996 Paris-Nice.)
DE LAS CUEVAS, Armand (F), born June 26, 1968, at Troyes.
Tour record: 62nd overall in 1995.
FERNANDEZ GINES (Sp), Manuel, born February 25, 1971, at La Zubia.
Tour record: 16th overall in 1996.
OLANO, Abraham (Sp), born January 22, 1970, at Euskarez.
Tour record: 9th overall in 1996; 30th overall in 1994.
Batik-Del Monte (Monaco)
Sponsor: Fruit and juice company
Bicycle: De Rosa
Directeur sportif: Emanuele Bombini
Leaders:
BERZIN, Eugeni (Rus), born June 3, 1970, at Viborg.
Tour record: 20th overall (yellow jersey for two days) and one stage win in 1996.
CENGHIALTA, Bruno (I), born December 5, 1962, at Montecchio Maggiore.
Tour record: 56th overall in 1996; 15th overall in 1995; 25th overall in 1994; 38th overall in 1993; 56th overall and one stage win in 1991.
FRATTINI, Francesco (I), born January 18, 1967, at Varese.
Potential stage winner.
MINALI, Nicola (I), born November 1, 1969, at Isola della Scala.
One stage win in 1994.
Big Mat-Auber 93 (France)
Sponsor: Hardware chain
Bicycle: Peugeot
Directeur sportif: Stéphane Javalet
Leaders:
BOURGUIGNON, Thierry (F), born December 19, 1962, at La Mûre.
Tour record: 62nd overall in 1996; 36th overall in 1993; 29th overall in 1992; 25th overall in 1991.
LANCE, Pascal (F), born January 23, 1964, at Toul.
Tour record: 68th overall in 1993; 99th overall in 1991; 51st overall in 1990.
LINO, Pascal (F), born August 13, 1966, at Satrouville.
Tour record: 11th overall in 1994; 43rd overall and one stage win in 1993; 5th overall and 10 days in the yellow jersey in 1992; 70th overall in 1991; 23rd overall in 1990.
TALMANT, Gilles (F), born April 27, 1970, at Conflans.
Tour record: 118th overall in 1996; 104th overall in 1995.
Casino (France)
Sponsor: Hypermarket chain
Bicycle: Colnago
Directeur sportif: Vincent Lavenu
Leaders:
CHANTEUR, Pascal (F) born February 9, 1968, at St. Denis.
Tour record: 81st overall in 1994; 75th overall in 1993.
KIRSIPUU, Jaan (Est), born July 17, 1969, at Tartu.
Potential sprint stage winner.
MASSI, Rodolfo (I), born September 17, 1965, at Corinaldo.
Potential stage winner.
RICHARD, Pascal (Swit), born March 16, 1964, at Vevey.
Tour record: 47th overall and one stage win in 1996; 49th overall in 1991;
23rd overall and one stage win in 1989.
Cofidis (France)
Sponsor: Financial and mail-order debit-card corporation
Bicycle: Fondries
Directeur sportif: Cyrille Guimard
Leaders:
ANDREU, Frankie (USA), born September 26, 1966, at Dearborn, Michigan.
Tour record: 111th overall in 1996; 82nd overall in 1995; 89th overall in
1994; 89th overall in 1993; 110th overall in 1992.
GAUMONT, Philippe (F), born February 22, 1973, at Amiens.
Making Tour debut.
JULICH, Bobby (USA), born November 18, 1971, at Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
Making Tour debut.
LIVINGSTON, Kevin (USA), born May 24, 1973, at St. Louis, Missouri.
Making Tour debut.
ROMINGER, Tony (Swit), born
Tour record: 10th overall in 1996; 8th overall in 1995; 2nd overall and three stage wins in 1993; 57th overall in 1990.
Festina (France)
Sponsor: Watch manufacturer
Bicycle: Peugeot
Directeur sportif: Bruno Roussel
Leaders:
BOUVARD, Gilles (F), born May 10, 1969, at Bourg-en-Bresse.
Tour record: 63rd overall in 1995.
DUFAUX, Laurent (Swit), born May 20, 1969, at Roche.
Tour record: 4th overall and one stage win in 1996; 19th overall in 1995; 35th overall in 1994.
VIRENQUE, Richard (F), born November 19, 1969, at Casablanca (Mor).
Tour record: 3rd overall and KoM in 1996; 9th overall, KoM and one stage win in 1995; 5th overall, KoM and one stage win in 1994; 19th overall in 1993; 25th overall and one day in yellow jersey in 1992.
WÜST, Marcel (G), born August 6, 1967, at Cologne.
Potential sprint stage winner.
GAN (France)
Sponsor: Insurance company
Bicycle: Eddy Merckx
Directeur sportif: Roger Legeay
Leaders:
BOARDMAN, Chris (GB), born August 6, 1968, at Hoylake.
Tour record: 39th overall in 1996; one stage win and three days in the yellow jersey in 1994.
MONCASSIN, Frédéric (F), born September 26, 1968, at Saubens.
Tour record: Two stage wins in 1996.
VOGELS, Henk (Aus), born July 31, 1973, at Amsterdam (Nl).
Potential stage winner.
Kelme-Costa Blanca (Spain)
Sponsor: Shoe manufacturer
Bicycle: Gios
Directeur sportif: Alvaro Piño
Leaders:
BUENAHORA, Hernan (Col), born March 18, 1967 at Barichara.
Tour record: 10th overall in 1995; 18th overall in 1994.
DOMINGUEZ, Juan-Carlos (Sp), born April 13, 1971 at Iscar.
Making Tour debut.
ESCARTIN, Fernando (Sp), born January 24, 1968 at Biescas.
Tour record: 8th overall in 1996; 7th overall in 1995; 12th overall in 1994;
30th overall in 1993; 45th overall in 1992.
La Française des Jeux (France)
Sponsor: National lottery
Bicycle: Gitane
Directeur sportif: Marc Madiot
Leaders:
HEULOT, Stéphane (F), born March 20, 1971, at Rennes.
Tour record: Three days in yellow jersey in 1996.
REBELLIN, Davide (I), born August 9, 1971, at San Bonifacio.
Making Tour debut (6th overall in 1996 Giro).
SCIANDRI, Max (GB), born February 15, 1967, at Derby.
Tour record: 47th overall and one stage win in 1995; 71st overall in 1993.
SEIGNEUR, Eddy (F), born February 15, 1969, at Beauvais.
Tour record: 51st overall and one stage win in 1994.
Lotto-Mobistar (Belgium)
Sponsor: National lottery
Bicycle: Vitus
Directeur sportif: Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke
Leaders:
ABDUJAPAROV, Djamolidin (Uzb), born February 28, 1964, at Tashkent.
Tour record: 78th overall and one stage win in 1996; 56th overall and one
stage win in 1995; 57th overall, points winner and two stage wins in 1994;
76th overall, points winner and three stage wins in 1993; 85th overall,
points winner and two stage wins in 1991; 145th overall in 1990.
MADOUAS, Laurent (F), born February 8, 1967, at Rennes.
Tour record: 23rd overall in 1996; 12th overall in 1995; 22nd overall in 1993.
SALMON, Benoît (F), born May 9, 1974, at Dinan.
Making Tour debut.
TCHMIL, Andreï (Rus), born January 22, 1963, at Kishyniev.
Tour record: 77th overall in 1996; 71st overall in 1995.
Mapei-GB (Italy)
Sponsor: Multinational chemical company
Bicycle: Colnago
Team manager: Giuseppe Saronni
Directeurs sportifs: Pietro Algeri, Fabrizio Fabbri, Patrick Lefévère
Leaders:
MUSEEUW, Johan (B), born November 13, 1965, at Varenare.
Tour record: 95th overall in 1996; 73rd overall in 1995; 80th overall and three days in yellow jersey in 1994; 50th overall and two days in yellow jersey in 1993; 73rd overall in 1992; 81st overall and two stage wins in 1990; 106th overall in 1989.
SVORADA, Jan (Cz), born August 28, 1968, at Trencin.
Tour record: 103rd overall and one stage win in 1994.
TONKOV, Pavel (Rus), born February 9, 1969, at Ichevis.
Tour record: DNF in 1994 and 1995. (Won 1996 Giro d'Italia.)
TAFI, Andrea (I), born May 7, 1966, at Fucecchio.
Tour record: 45th overall in 1996; 39th overall in 1995; 128th overall in 1993.
Mercatone Uno (San Marino)
Sponsor: Supermarket chain
Bicycle: Villier
Team manager: Davide Cassani
Leaders:
DELLA SANTA, Stefano (I), born May 22, 1967, at Lucca.
Making Tour debut.
PANTANI, Marco (I), born January 13, 1970, at Cesena.
Tour record: 13th overall and two stage wins in 1995; 3rd overall in 1994.
PODENZANA, Massimo (I), born July 29, 1961, at La Spezia.
Tour record: 61st overall and one stage win in 1996; 26th overall in 1995.
ZBERG, Beat (Swit), born May 10, 1971, at Silenen.
Tour record: 29th overall in 1995; 27th overall in 1994.
MG-Technogym (Italy)
Sponsor: Clothing manufacturer
Bicycle: Fausto Coppi
Directeur sportif: Giancarlo Ferretti.
Assistants: Serge Parsani, Oscar Pirazzini
Leaders:
BALDATO, Fabio (I), born June 13, 1968, at Brendola.
Tour record: 63rd overall and one stage win in 1996; stage win in 1995.
BARTOLI, Michele (I), born May 27, 1970, at San Giovanni alla Vena.
Tour record: 19th overall in 1996.
FONTANELLI, Fabiano (I), born April 24 1965, at Faenza.
Potential stage winner.
Mutuelle de Seine et Marne (France)
Sponsor: Regional insurance company
Bicycle: Look
Directeur sportif: Yvon Sanquer
Leaders
DELRIEU, David (F), born February 20, 1971.
Making Tour debut. (5th overall in 1996 Tour de l'Avenir)
DOJWA, Jean-Philippe (F), born August 7, 1967, at Elboeuf.
Tour record: 15th overall in 1993.
FRASER, Gordon (Can), born November 19, 1968, at Ottowa.
Making Tour debut. Potential sprint stage winner.
PILLON, Laurent (F), born March 31, 1964, at Creil.
Tour record: 66th overall in 1993; 88th overall in 1992; 51st overall in 1991; 103rd overall in 1990.
ONCE (Spain)
Sponsor: Lottery tickets sales organization
Bicycle: Look
Directeur sportif: Manolo Saiz
Leaders:
GARCIA, Marcelino (Sp), born February 27, 1971, at Oviedo.
Making Tour debut.
GARMENDIA, Aitor (Sp), born March 3, 1968, at Isasondo.
Tour record: 35th overall in 1996; 95th overall in 1995; 108th overall in 1992.
JALABERT, Laurent (F), born November 30, 1968, at Mazamet.
Tour record: 4th overall, points winner, one stage win and two days in yellow jersey in 1995; 34th overall, points winner and one stage win in 1992; 71st overall in 1991.
ZARRABEITIA, Mikel (Sp) born May 14, 1970, at Abadiano.
Making Tour debut (2nd in 1994 Vuelta a España).
ZÜLLE, Alex (Swit), born June 5, 1966, at Wil.
Tour record: 26th overall and one stage win in 1996; 2nd overall and one stage win in 1995; 8th overall in 1994; 40th overall and two days in yellow jersey in 1993; one day in yellow jersey in 1992.
Polti (Italy)
Sponsor: Domestic electrical goods manufacturer
Bicycle: Fausto Coppi
Team manager: Gianluigi Stanga
Directeurs sportifs: Vittorio Algeri, Antonio Bevilacqua
Leaders:
BALDINGER, Dirk (G), born August 27, 1971, at Freiburg.
Making Tour debut.
LEBLANC, Luc (F), born August 4, 1966, at Limoges.
Tour record: 6th overall and one stage win in 1996; 4th overall and one stage win in 1994; 5th overall and one day in the yellow jersey in 1991; 73rd overall in 1990.
MERCKX, Axel (B), born August 8, 1972, at Uccle.
Making Tour debut.
UCHAKOV, Sergei (Ukr), born May 11, 1968, at Arcangelsk.
Tour record: 74th overall and one stage win in 1995; 63rd overall in 1994; 97th overall in 1993.
Rabobank (Netherlands)
Sponsor: National banking corporation
Bicycle: Colnago
Team manager: Jan Raas
Directeur sportif: Theo de Rooy
Leaders:
BREUKINK, Erik (Nl), born April 1, 1964, at Rheden.
Tour record: 34th overall in 1996; 20th overall in 1995; 29th overall in 1994; 7th overall in 1992; 3rd overall and two stage wins in 1990; one stage win and one day in the yellow jersey in 1989; 12th overall in 1988; 21st overall and one stage win in 1987.
BRUYNEEL, Johan (B), born August 23, 1964, at Izegem.
Tour record: Stage win and one day in yellow jersey in 1995; 7th overall and
one stage win (fastest Tour road stage on record: 49.417 kph) in 1993; 35th overall in 1991; 17th overall in 1990.
JONKER, Patrick (Nl), born May 25, 1969, at Amsterdam.
Tour record: 12th overall in 1996.
LUTTENBERGER, Peter (A), born December 13, 1973, at Graz.
Tour record: 5th overall in 1996.
SØRENSEN, Rolf (Dk), born April 20, 1965, at Copenhagen.
Tour record: 28th overall and one stage win in 1996; 19th overall and one stage win in 1994; 70th overall in 1993; three days in the yellow jersey in 1991.
Roslotto-ZG (Russia)
Sponsor: National lottery
Bicycle: Bianchi
Directeurs sportifs: Massimo Ghirotto, Nikolai Gorelov, Dario Mariuzzo
Leaders:
GONTCHENKOV, Alexander (Ukr), born April 14, 1970, at Lvov.
Potential stage winner.
SAVOLDELLI, Paolo (I), born May 7, 1973, at Rovetta.
Tour record: 33rd overall in 1996.
STRAZZER, Massimo (I), August 17, 1969, at Zevio.
Potential sprint stage winner.
UGRUMOV, Piotr (Lat), born January 21, 1964, at Riga.
Tour record: 7th overall in 1996; 2nd overall and two stage wins in 1994.
Saeco (San Marino)
Sponsor: Coffee machine manufacturer
Bicycle: Cannondale
Directeur sportif: Franco Gini
Leaders:
CASAGRANDE, Francesco (I), born September 14, 1970, at Florence.
Making Tour debut.
CIPOLLINI, Mario (I), born March 22, 1967, at Lucca.
Tour record: One stage win in 1996; two stage wins in 1995; one stage win in 1993.
GOTTI, Ivan (I), born March 28, 1969, at San Pellegrino.
Tour record: 5th overall in 1995.
LELLI, Massimiliano (I), born December 2, 1967, at Manciano.
Tour record: 25th overall in 1996; 43rd overall in 1995.
Telekom (Germany)
Sponsor: International telecommunications
corporation
Bicycle: Pinarello
Directeur sportif: Walter Godefroot
Leaders:
BÖLTS, Udo (G), born August 10, 1966, at Rodalben.
Tour record: 14th overall in 1996; 38th overall in 1994; 9th overall in 1994; 25th overall in 1993; 35th overall in 1992.
RIIS, Bjarne (Dk), born April 3, 1964, at Herning.
Tour record: 1st overall and two stage wins in 1996; 3rd overall in 1995; 14th overall and one stage win in 1994; 5th overall and one stage win in 1993; 107th in 1991; 95th overall in 1989.
ULLRICH, Jan (G), born December 3, 1973, at Rostock.
Tour record: 2nd overall and one stage win in 1996.
ZABEL, Erik (G), born July 7, 1970, at Berlin.
Tour record: 82nd overall, points winner and two stage wins in 1996; 90th overall and two stage wins in 1995.
TVM (Netherlands)
Sponsor: Transportation insurance group
Bicycle: Gazelle
Directeur sportif: Cees Priem
Leaders:
ANDERSSON, Michael (S), born March 4, 1967, at Ogandy.
Making Tour debut.
BLIJLEVENS, Jeroen (Nl), born December 29, 1971, at Rijen.
Tour record: 128th overall and one stage win in 1996; one stage win in 1995.
IVANOV, Sergei (Rus), born March 5, 1975.
Making Tour debut.
ROUX, Laurent (F), born December 3, 1972, at Cahors.
Tour record: 44th overall in 1996.
U.S. Postal Service (USA)
Sponsor: International postal service
Bicycle: Trek
Team manager: Mark Gorski
Directeur sportif: Johnny Weltz
Leaders:
BAFFI, Adriano (I), born August 7, 1962, at Vailate.
Tour record: 134th in 1990. Potential sprint stage winner.
BARANOWSKI, Dariusz (Pl), born June 22, 1972.
Making Tour debut.
EKIMOV, Viatcheslav (Rus), born February 4, 1966, at Vyberg.
Tour record: 21st overall in 1996; 18th overall in 1995; 36th overall in 1994; 35th overall in 1993; 65th overall in 1992; 42nd overall and and one stage
win in 1991; 55th overall in 1990.
HAMILTON, Tyler (USA), born March 1, 1973, at Marblehead, Massachusetts.
Making Tour debut.
HINCAPIE, George (USA), born June 29, 1973, at Farmingdale, New York.
Potential stage winner, (DNF in 1996.)
ROBIN, Jean-Cyril (F), born August 27, 1969, at Lannion.
Tour record: 22nd overall in 1995;
44th overall in 1992.