April 06, 2012 (France) – The organisers of the Tour de France have completed the selection of the teams for the next edition of the event, which will start in the province of Liege on Saturday, June 30, and finish in Paris on the Champs-ElysÈes on Sunday, July 22. In accordance with International Cycling Union rules, the following 18 ProTeams are systematically selected:

– AG2R La Mondiale (Fra)
– Astana Pro Team (Kaz)
– BMC Racing Team (USA)
– Euskaltel – Euskadi (Esp)
– FDJ – Big Mat (Fra)
– Garmin – Barracuda (USA)
– Greenedge Cycling Team (Aus)
– Katusha Team (Rus)
– Lampre – ISD (Ita)
– Liquigas – Cannondale (Ita)
– Lotto Belisol Team (Bel)
– Movistar Team (Esp)
– Omega Pharma – Quickstep (Bel)
– Rabobank Cycling Team (Ned)
– Radioshack – Nissan (Lux)
– SkyProcycling (GBR)
– Team Saxo Bank (Den)
– Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team (Ned)

In addition to these 18 teams, the organizers have issued four invitations, meaning 22 teams will be present at the start of the 99th edition of the Tour de France. They are:

– Argos – Shimano (Ned)
– Cofidis, le crÈdit en ligne (Fra)
– Saur – Sojasun (Fra)
– Team Europcar (Fra)