The four wild card teams for this year's Tour De France have been announced.
The wildcard teams for the race which starts on Saturday July 2 and ends in Paris on Sunday on July 24 are French teams Cofidis, Direct Energie and Fortuneo-Vital Concept along with German side Bora Argon 18.
Emmanuel Hubert of Fortuneo-Vital Concept said about his team's inclusion: "For the third consecutive year, our team will participate in the biggest race in the world. It's just fantastic, wonderful, and shows the way we have done in recent years.
"I warmly thank the organizers Amaury Sport Organisation of confidence in us. Our goal now is to show us as credible competitors at the highest international level.
"We will work hard to shine in July.
"The Grand Depart 2016 at Mont-Saint-Michel will be of course a special meaning for us Britons. It will also be the opportunity to thank the doorstep of our fans, who bring us so much support and warmth for many seasons."
The competing teams will be: AG2R La Mondiale, Astana Pro Team, ), BMC Racing Team, Cannondale Pro Cycling Team, Dimension Data, Etixx - Quick Step, FDJ, IAM Cycling, Lampre - Merida, Lotto Soudal, Movistar Team, Orica GreenEDGE, Team Giant - Alpecin, Team Katusha, Team Lotto NL - Jumbo, Team Sky (GBR), Tinkoff, Trek – Segafredo.. Wildcards: Bora - Argon 18), Cofidis- Solutions Crédits, Direct Energie and Fortunéo - Vital Concept.