Greig Leach

Jean-Marie Bideau (Bretagne-Seche) and Jan Barta (NetApp-Endura) are both riding in the Tour de France for the first time, for that matter it is the first invitation to the Tour for either team as well. Following the usual pattern of Wild Card teams trying to make their presence felt at the race, these two went off on a break away the very moment the race referee drop the flag the signaled the start of racing. The pair would have wanted more riders to join them, but once they had put in the effort, it didn't make any sense to sit up and go back to the peloton. With such a small number in the break the normally small percentage chance of success dropped to nearly nil.