How Many Riders at the 2023 Tour de France?

Written by : Mr Mamil
Last updated :

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EF Education-EasyPost Tour de France 2023

In 2023, there will be 22 teams in the Tour de France, consisting of 18 UCI World Tour and four invited teams. Each team has eight riders, with a total of 176 riders.

Key takeaways

  • Individual participants took part from 1904 to 1929.
  • National teams and mostly French individuals (called touriste-routiers) took part from 1930 to 1937. The national teams were made up of Belgium, Italy, Spain, Germany, and France.
  • Commercially sponsored teams replaced national teams in 1962. The 1968 edition was an exception where the commercial sponsors pulled out and thus was competed by national teams.
  • Maximum number of riders per team ranged between 10 and 11 up to 1986. From 1987, it was reduced to 9 and to 8 in 2018. As the average speed increases, the large number of riders increases the dangers and risks.
  • Most number of teams was in 2021 with 23 teams. In the last 30 years, the number ranged from 20 to 23.
  • ASO started an invitation system in 1989. UCI World Tour (formerly UCI ProTour) teams automatically qualify for the Tour de France and the balance (3 to 6 teams) are made up of teams invited by the ASO (owner of Tour de France). The invited teams are usually French Pro Continental teams.
  • 13 riders, including favorites such as Ivan Basso and Jan Ulrich, were expelled on the eve of the 2006 edition due to the Spanish doping scandal.
  • In 2008, Astana who was the team of 2007 winner, Alberto Contador was not invited due to its ongoing doping scandals.

Key statistics

  • Most number of starters was in 1986 with 210 riders.
  • Least number of starters was in 1905 and 1934 with only 60 riders.
  • Highest completion rate was 88.1% in 2019, followed by 87.9% (2016) and 86.7% (2009).
  • Highest abandonment rate was 85.5% in 1919, followed by 82.9% (1906) and 82.1% (1913).
  • Advancement in training, recovery, and nutrition has seen 14 out of the last 20 editions (except 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2012, and 2021) have a completion rate of above 80%.

The table below shows the number of starters and finishers for each Tour de France edition.

YearStartersFinishers% FinishedRides per teamTeamsTeam type
202217613476.1%822Commercial sponsors
202118414176.6%823Commercial sponsors
202017614683.0%822Commercial sponsors
201917615588.1%822Commercial sponsors
201817614582.4%822Commercial sponsors
201719816784.3%922Commercial sponsors
201619817487.9%922Commercial sponsors
201519816080.8%922Commercial sponsors
201419816482.8%922Commercial sponsors
201319816985.4%922Commercial sponsors
201219815377.3%922Commercial sponsors
201119816784.3%922Commercial sponsors
201019717086.3%920Commercial sponsors
200918015686.7%920Commercial sponsors
200818014580.6%920Commercial sponsors
200718914174.6%921Commercial sponsors
200617613979.0%920Commercial sponsors
200518915582.0%921Commercial sponsors
200418814778.2%921Commercial sponsors
200319814774.2%922Commercial sponsors
200218915381.0%921Commercial sponsors
200118914476.2%921Commercial sponsors
200019712764.5%920Commercial sponsors
199918014178.3%920Commercial sponsors
19981899650.8%921Commercial sponsors
199719813970.2%922Commercial sponsors
199619712965.5%922Commercial sponsors
199518911560.8%921Commercial sponsors
199418911761.9%921Commercial sponsors
199318013675.6%920Commercial sponsors
199219813065.7%922Commercial sponsors
199119815879.8%922Commercial sponsors
199019815678.8%922Commercial sponsors
198919813869.7%922Commercial sponsors
198819815176.3%922Commercial sponsors
198720713565.2%923Commercial sponsors
198621013262.9%1021Commercial sponsors
198518014480.0%1018Commercial sponsors
198417012472.9%1017Commercial sponsors
19831408862.9%1014Commercial sponsors
198216912574.0%1017Commercial sponsors
198115012180.7%1015Commercial sponsors
19801308565.4%1013Commercial sponsors
19791509060.0%1015Commercial sponsors
19781107870.9%1011Commercial sponsors
19771005353.0%1010Commercial sponsors
19761308766.9%1013Commercial sponsors
19751408661.4%1014Commercial sponsors
197413010580.8%1013Commercial sponsors
19731328765.9%1112Commercial sponsors
19721328866.7%1112Commercial sponsors
19711309472.3%1013Commercial sponsors
197015010066.7%1015Commercial sponsors
19691308666.2%1013Commercial sponsors
19681106357.3%1011National
19671308867.7%1013Commercial sponsors
19661308263.1%1013Commercial sponsors
19651309673.8%1013Commercial sponsors
19641328161.4%1112Commercial sponsors
19631307658.5%1013Commercial sponsors
19621499463.1%1015Commercial sponsors
19611327254.5%11National, Regional
19601288163.3%13National, Regional
19591206554.2%10National, Regional
19581207865.0%10National, Regional
19571205646.7%12National, Regional
19561208873.3%12National, Regional
19551306953.1%13National, Regional
19541106962.7%11National, Regional
19531197663.9%12National, Regional
19521227863.9%12National, Regional
19511236653.7%12National, Regional
19501165144.0%14National, Regional
19491205545.8%13National, Regional
19481204436.7%12National, Regional
1947995353.5%10National, Regional
1939794962.0%10National, Regional
1938965557.3%9National
1937984646.9%9National, Individual
1936904347.8%9National, Individual
1935934649.5%5National, Individual
1934603965.0%5National, Individual
1933804050.0%5National, Individual
1932805771.3%5National, Individual
1931813543.2%6National, Individual
19301005959.0%5National, Individual
19291556038.7%Individuals
19281624125.3%Individuals
19271423927.5%Individuals
19261264132.5%Individuals
19251304937.7%Individuals
19241576038.2%Individuals
19231394834.5%Individuals
19221213831.4%Individuals
19211233830.9%Individuals
19201132219.5%Individuals
1919691014.5%Individuals
19141455437.2%Individuals
19131402517.9%Individuals
19121314131.3%Individuals
1911842833.3%Individuals
19101104137.3%Individuals
19091505536.7%Individuals
19081123632.1%Individuals
1907933335.5%Individuals
1906821417.1%Individuals
1905602440.0%Individuals
1904882730.7%Individuals
Number of starters vs finishers at the Tour de France