Is it past TdF finish? Past TT time? World ranking? Each team can chose?
Also: what determines the team numbers? Since Phonak is no longer around in the TdF, who gets numbers 1-9? Is it the second place team from 2006?
Thanks
Tom
I read somewhere that the TDF organizers didn’t give numbers 1-9 to any team this year. Oscar Pereiro (sp) won was the runner up from last year is wearing number 11. For the starting order of the prologue, I believe the teams can start in the order of thier choice. Looking at the results from last year compared to the starting order for this morning, the teams start in the same order that their top rider finished last year - although they can switch out riders as they please.
What about new teams?
Right now CSC is going, their numbers are in the thirties. Would this mean they go third team from the end?
Last Year Finishes (http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2006//tour06/?id=results/tour0620)
Phonak
Caisse d’Epargne-Illes Balears
T-Mobile
CSC
Davitamon-Lotto
Rabobank
AG2R
Euskaltel
Lampre
Gerolsteiner
Credit Argricole
Discovery
This year’s start order (http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2007/tour07/?id=stages/tour070) - the last several spots are:
Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 17:41
Cyril Dessel (Fra) Ag2r Prevoyance 17:42
Thomas Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 17:43
Leif Hoste (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 17:44
Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC 17:45
Mark Cavendish (GBr) T-Mobile Team 17:46
Nicolas Portal (Fra) Caisse d’Epargne 17:47
Geraint Thomas (GBr) Barloworld 17:48
David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval - Prodir 17:49
Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 17:50
Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram 17:51
Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step - Innergetic 17:52
Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Française Des Jeux 17:53
Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Liquigas 17:54
Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 17:55
Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) Agritubel 17:56
Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 17:57
Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 17:58
Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole 17:59
Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner 18:00
Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 18:01
Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 18:02
Christophe Moreau (Fra) Ag2r Prevoyance 18:03
Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 18:04
Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor-Lotto 18:05
Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC 18:06
Michael Rogers (Aus) T-Mobile Team 18:07
Oscar Pereiro (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 18:08
Most of the teams will put their best rider/time-trialer at the end of the day - that rider will drive the course with their DS a couple of times during the day (following one of their team mates out on the course) so see how they ride it, cut the corners, which parts to hammer, etc.