23 teams confirmed for Giro d'Italia

Twenty three teams will take part in the 2013 Giro d'Italia, taking the total number of riders on the start line to 207.

The start list of the 2013 Giro was thrown into doubt when Katusha successfully appealed against a Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) decision to not award a WorldTour licence to the Russian team. The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled in Katusha's favour, and the UCI subsequently gave the team a licence despite already having awarded the maximum 18 licences.

Katusha therefore became the 19th WorldTour team in February after the UCI amended its rules - but several races, including the Giro d'Italia, had already selected the teams for their events, and allocated wildcard places to Professional Continental squads. The Giro start list was already full.

WorldTour squads gain automatic entry into WorldTour events, so with the maximum number of riders allowed to take part in the Giro set at 200, it looked likely that one of the four wildcard teams would have its selection revoked.

However, on Tuesday Giro organiser RCS Sport confirmed that it would host 23 rather than 22 teams after the 200-rider-maximum rule was scrapped. All four Pro Continental squads selected as wildcards will also be able to ride. Everyone is happy.

The 2013 Giro d'Italia starts in Napoli on Saturday May 4, and finishes three weeks later in Brescia on Sunday May 26.

The list of 23 teams taking part in the 2013 Giro d'Italia is as follows:

Ag2r-La Mondiale

Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela

Argos-Shimano

Astana

Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox

Blanco

BMC Racing Team

Cannondale

Colombia

Euskaltel-Euskadi

FDJ

Garmin-Sharp

Katusha

Lampre-Merida

Lotto-Belisol

Movistar

Omega Pharma-QuickStep

Orica-GreenEdge

RadioShack-Leopard

Saxo-Tinkoff

Sky

Vacansoleil-DCM

Vini Fantini

Related links

2013 Giro d'Italia route presented

Katusha granted WorldTour licence by UCI