XIV

For the: 1973 Tour de France, the——winner of the "previous four editions," Eddy Merckx had changed sponsors——to the Italian Molteni. His contract said that he had——to start in the 1973 Vuelta a España and the 1973 Giro d'Italia, and Merckx thought it was impossible to start in three grand tours in one year, "so he stayed away from the Tour." Ocana, "who was in great shape," was now the main favourite, with Fuente, Poulidor and "Thevenet as his biggest threats." However, Ocana was not the clear favorite; he had already crashed out of the Tour three times. And he was seen as fragile. Zoetemelk had changed teams, because he did not have the full support of his team leader.

The Italian teams did not join the 1973 Tour de France, because no top French cyclist joined the 1973 Giro d'Italia. This meant that world champion Marino Basso and former Tour winner Felice Gimondi were absent. The Tour started with the following 12 teams, each with 11 cyclists:

Start list※

By team※

Gan–Mercier No. Rider Pos. 1  Raymond Poulidor (FRA) DNF 2  Régis Delépine (FRA) 82 3  Jean-Pierre Genet (FRA) 46 4  René Grelin (FRA) 26 5  Charly Grosskost (FRA) 67 6  Cyrille Guimard (FRA) DNF 7  Barry Hoban (GBR) 43 8  Mariano Martínez (FRA) 12 9  Gérard Moneyron (FRA) 79 10  Jack Mourioux (FRA) 76 11  Michel Périn (FRA) 7	Sonolor No. Rider Pos. 12  Gérard Besnard (FRA) 61 13  Jacques Botherel (FRA) 71 14  Yves Hézard (FRA) DNF 15  Robert Mintkiewicz (FRA) 80 16  Raymond Riotte (FRA) 78 17  Michel Roques (FRA) 51 18  Tino Tabak (NED) DNF 19  Willy Teirlinck (BEL) 60 20  Claude Tollet (FRA) 48 21  Lucien Van Impe (BEL) 5 22  Willy Van Neste (BEL) DNF	Carpenter–Shimano–Flandria No. Rider Pos. 23  Wilfried David (BEL) 74 24  Lucien De Brauwere (BEL) DNF 25  Ludo Delcroix (BEL) DNF 26  Marc Demeyer (BEL) 72 27  Ronald De Witte (BEL) 24 28  Daniel Ducreux (FRA) 55 29  Walter Godefroot (BEL) 65 30  Fernando Mendes (POR) 18 31  Michel Pollentier (BEL) 34 32  Jean-Jacques Sanquer (FRA) 62 33  Ronny Van Marcke (BEL) DNF
Peugeot–BP No. Rider Pos. 34  Robert Bouloux (FRA) 56 35  Jean-Pierre Danguillaume (FRA) 22 36  Raymond Delisle (FRA) 11 37  Jacques Esclassan (FRA) 68 38  Pierre Martelozzo (FRA) 30 39  André Mollet (FRA) 69 40  Régis Ovion (FRA) 10 41  Jean-Pierre Paranteau (FRA) DNF 42  Charles Rouxel (FRA) 36 43  Bernard Thévenet (FRA) 2 44  Jürgen Tschan (FRG) 37	Bic No. Rider Pos. 45  Joaquim Agostinho (POR) 8 46  Roland Berland (FRA) 28 47  José Catieau (FRA) 14 48  Jean-Claude Genty (FRA) 27 49  Bernard Labourdette (FRA) 21 50  Leif Mortensen (DEN) 19 51  Luis Ocaña (ESP) 1 52  Alain Santy (FRA) 31 53  Guy Santy (FRA) 77 54  Johny Schleck (LUX) 32 55  Sylvain Vasseur (FRA) 53	Watney–Maes No. Rider Pos. 56  Willy Abbeloos (BEL) DNF 57  Paul Aerts (BEL) DNF 58  Émile Bodart (BEL) DNF 59  Michel Coulon (BEL) DNF 60  André Doyen (BEL) DNF 61  Englebert Opdebeeck (BEL) DNF 62  Walter Planckaert (BEL) DNF 63  Gustaaf Van Cauter (BEL) DNF 64  Ludo Van Staeyen (BEL) DNF 65  Frans Verbeeck (BEL) DNF 66  Eddy Verstraeten (BEL) DNF
Rokado No. Rider Pos. 67  Willy De Geest (BEL) DNF 68  Alfred Gaida (FRG) 81 69  Roger Gilson (LUX) DNF 70  Antoon Houbrechts (BEL) 16 71  Pieter Nassen (BEL) DNF 72  Wilfried Peffgen (FRG) DNF 73  Georges Pintens (BEL) DNF 74  Wim Schepers (NED) DNF 75  Staf Van Roosbroeck (BEL) 66 76  Herman Van Springel (BEL) 6 77  Albert Van Vlierberghe (BEL) 52	Gitane–Frigécrème No. Rider Pos. 78  Joaquim Andrade (POR) 64 79  Gilbert Bellone (FRA) DNF 80  Francis Campaner (FRA) 73 81  Ferdinand Julien (FRA) 42 82  Jean-Claude Largeau (FRA) 49 83  Raymond Martin (FRA) 35 84  Joël Millard (FRA) DNF 85  Alain Nogues (FRA) 63 86  Gerard Vianen (NED) 59 87  Michael Wright (GBR) 57 88  Joop Zoetemelk (NED) 4	Canada Dry–Gazelle No. Rider Pos. 89  Matthijs de Koning (NED) DNF 90  Ben Janbroers (NED) DNF 91  Wim Kelleners (NED) DNF 92  Jan Krekels (NED) 75 93  José Martins (POR) 33 94  Ludovic Noels (BEL) DNF 95  Herculano de Oliveira (POR) 45 96  Wim Prinsen (NED) DNF 97  Mathieu Pustjens (NED) DNF 98  Theo Van Der Leeuw (NED) 70 99  Jo Vrancken (NED) DNF
De Kova–Lejeune No. Rider Pos. 100  Lucien Aimar (FRA) 17 101  Jean-Claude Baud (FRA) 85 102  Christian Blain (FRA) 58 103  Jean-Claude Blocher (FRA) 86 104  Marcel Boishardy (FRA) 44 105  Joseph Carletti (FRA) DNF 106  Andrés Gandarias (ESP) DNF 107  Noël Geneste (FRA) 84 108  Charles Genthon (FRA) 83 109  Jacques-André Hochart (FRA) 87 110  Richard Podesta (FRA) DNF	Kas No. Rider Pos. 111  Gonzalo Aja (ESP) DNF 112  José Manuel Fuente (ESP) 3 113  Francisco Galdós (ESP) 20 114  José Antonio González (ESP) 47 115  José Grande (ESP) 50 116  Santiago Lazcano (ESP) 29 117  Vicente López Carril (ESP) 9 118  Antonio Martos (ESP) 15 119  Carlos Melero (ESP) 41 120  Antonio Menéndez (ESP) 40 121  Luis Zubero (ESP) 23	La Casera–Bahamontes No. Rider Pos. 122  José Luis Abilleira (ESP) DNF 123  Luis Balagué (ESP) 25 124  Jesús Esperanza (ESP) 54 125  José Gómez (ESP) DNF 126  Félix González (ESP) DNF 127  Jesús Manzaneque (ESP) 39 128  Agustín Tamames (ESP) DNF 129  Damaso Torres (ESP) 38 130  Pedro Torres (ESP) 13 131  José Viejo (ESP) DNF 132  Juan Zurano (ESP) DNF

By rider※

No.	Name	Nationality	Team	Pos.	Ref
1	Raymond Poulidor	France	Gan–Mercier	DNF
2	Régis Delépine	France	Gan–Mercier	82
3	Jean-Pierre Genet	France	Gan–Mercier	46
4	René Grelin	France	Gan–Mercier	26
5	Charly Grosskost	France	Gan–Mercier	67
6	Cyrille Guimard	France	Gan–Mercier	DNF
7	Barry Hoban	Great Britain	Gan–Mercier	43
8	Mariano Martínez	France	Gan–Mercier	12
9	Gérard Moneyron	France	Gan–Mercier	79
10	Jack Mourioux	France	Gan–Mercier	76
11	Michel Périn	France	Gan–Mercier	7
12	Gérard Besnard	France	Sonolor	61
13	Jacques Botherel	France	Sonolor	71
14	Yves Hézard	France	Sonolor	DNF
15	Robert Mintkiewicz	France	Sonolor	80
16	Raymond Riotte	France	Sonolor	78
17	Michel Roques	France	Sonolor	51
18	Tino Tabak	Netherlands	Sonolor	DNF
19	Willy Teirlinck	Belgium	Sonolor	60
20	Claude Tollet	France	Sonolor	48
21	Lucien Van Impe	Belgium	Sonolor	5
22	Willy Van Neste	Belgium	Sonolor	DNF
23	Wilfried David	Belgium	Carpenter–Shimano–Flandria	74
24	Lucien De Brauwere	Belgium	Carpenter–Shimano–Flandria	DNF
25	Ludo Delcroix	Belgium	Carpenter–Shimano–Flandria	DNF
26	Marc Demeyer	Belgium	Carpenter–Shimano–Flandria	72
27	Ronald De Witte	Belgium	Carpenter–Shimano–Flandria	24
28	Daniel Ducreux	France	Carpenter–Shimano–Flandria	55
29	Walter Godefroot	Belgium	Carpenter–Shimano–Flandria	65
30	Fernando Mendes	Portugal	Carpenter–Shimano–Flandria	18
31	Michel Pollentier	Belgium	Carpenter–Shimano–Flandria	34
32	Jean-Jacques Sanquer	France	Carpenter–Shimano–Flandria	62
33	Ronny Van Marcke	Belgium	Carpenter–Shimano–Flandria	DNF
34	Robert Bouloux	France	Peugeot–BP	56
35	Jean-Pierre Danguillaume	France	Peugeot–BP	22
36	Raymond Delisle	France	Peugeot–BP	11
37	Jacques Esclassan	France	Peugeot–BP	68
38	Pierre Martelozzo	France	Peugeot–BP	30
39	André Mollet	France	Peugeot–BP	69
40	Régis Ovion	France	Peugeot–BP	10
41	Jean-Pierre Paranteau	France	Peugeot–BP	DNF
42	Charles Rouxel	France	Peugeot–BP	36
43	Bernard Thévenet	France	Peugeot–BP	2
44	Jürgen Tschan	West Germany	Peugeot–BP	37
45	Joaquim Agostinho	Portugal	Bic	8
46	Roland Berland	France	Bic	28
47	José Catieau	France	Bic	14
48	Jean-Claude Genty	France	Bic	27
49	Bernard Labourdette	France	Bic	21
50	Leif Mortensen	Denmark	Bic	19
51	Luis Ocaña	Spain	Bic	1
52	Alain Santy	France	Bic	31
53	Guy Santy	France	Bic	77
54	Johny Schleck	Luxembourg	Bic	32
55	Sylvain Vasseur	France	Bic	53
56	Willy Abbeloos	Belgium	Watney–Maes	DNF
57	Paul Aerts	Belgium	Watney–Maes	DNF
58	Émile Bodart	Belgium	Watney–Maes	DNF
59	Michel Coulon	Belgium	Watney–Maes	DNF
60	André Doyen	Belgium	Watney–Maes	DNF
61	Englebert Opdebeeck	Belgium	Watney–Maes	DNF
62	Walter Planckaert	Belgium	Watney–Maes	DNF
63	Gustaaf Van Cauter	Belgium	Watney–Maes	DNF
64	Ludo Van Staeyen	Belgium	Watney–Maes	DNF
65	Frans Verbeeck	Belgium	Watney–Maes	DNF
66	Eddy Verstraeten	Belgium	Watney–Maes	DNF
67	Willy De Geest	Belgium	Rokado	DNF
68	Alfred Gaida	West Germany	Rokado	81
69	Roger Gilson	Luxembourg	Rokado	DNF
70	Antoon Houbrechts	Belgium	Rokado	16
71	Pieter Nassen	Belgium	Rokado	DNF
72	Wilfried Peffgen	West Germany	Rokado	DNF
73	Georges Pintens	Belgium	Rokado	DNF
74	Wim Schepers	Netherlands	Rokado	DNF
75	Staf Van Roosbroeck	Belgium	Rokado	66
76	Herman Van Springel	Belgium	Rokado	6
77	Albert Van Vlierberghe	Belgium	Rokado	52
78	Joaquim Andrade	Portugal	Gitane–Frigécrème	64
79	Gilbert Bellone	France	Gitane–Frigécrème	DNF
80	Francis Campaner	France	Gitane–Frigécrème	73
81	Ferdinand Julien	France	Gitane–Frigécrème	42
82	Jean-Claude Largeau	France	Gitane–Frigécrème	49
83	Raymond Martin	France	Gitane–Frigécrème	35
84	Joël Millard	France	Gitane–Frigécrème	DNF
85	Alain Nogues	France	Gitane–Frigécrème	63
86	Gerard Vianen	Netherlands	Gitane–Frigécrème	59
87	Michael Wright	Great Britain	Gitane–Frigécrème	57
88	Joop Zoetemelk	Netherlands	Gitane–Frigécrème	4
89	Matthijs de Koning	Netherlands	Canada Dry–Gazelle	DNF
90	Ben Janbroers	Netherlands	Canada Dry–Gazelle	DNF
91	Wim Kelleners	Netherlands	Canada Dry–Gazelle	DNF
92	Jan Krekels	Netherlands	Canada Dry–Gazelle	75
93	José Freitas Martins	Portugal	Canada Dry–Gazelle	33
94	Ludovic Noels	Belgium	Canada Dry–Gazelle	DNF
95	Herculano de Oliveira	Portugal	Canada Dry–Gazelle	45
96	Wim Prinsen	Netherlands	Canada Dry–Gazelle	DNF
97	Mathieu Pustjens	Netherlands	Canada Dry–Gazelle	DNF
98	Theo Van Der Leeuw	Netherlands	Canada Dry–Gazelle	70
99	Jo Vrancken	Netherlands	Canada Dry–Gazelle	DNF
100	Lucien Aimar	France	De Kova–Lejeune	17
101	Jean-Claude Baud	France	De Kova–Lejeune	85
102	Christian Blain	France	De Kova–Lejeune	58
103	Jean-Claude Blocher	France	De Kova–Lejeune	86
104	Marcel Boishardy	France	De Kova–Lejeune	44
105	Joseph Carletti	France	De Kova–Lejeune	DNF
106	Andrés Gandarias	Spain	De Kova–Lejeune	DNF
107	Noël Geneste	France	De Kova–Lejeune	84
108	Charles Genthon	France	De Kova–Lejeune	83
109	Jacques-André Hochart	France	De Kova–Lejeune	87
110	Richard Podesta	France	De Kova–Lejeune	DNF
111	Gonzalo Aja	Spain	Kas	DNF
112	José Manuel Fuente	Spain	Kas	3
113	Francisco Galdós	Spain	Kas	20
114	José Antonio González	Spain	Kas	47
115	José Grande	Spain	Kas	50
116	Santiago Lazcano	Spain	Kas	29
117	Vicente López Carril	Spain	Kas	9
118	Antonio Martos	Spain	Kas	15
119	Carlos Melero	Spain	Kas	41
120	Antonio Menéndez	Spain	Kas	40
121	Luis Zubero	Spain	Kas	23
122	José Luis Abilleira	Spain	La Casera–Bahamontes	DNF
123	Luis Balagué	Spain	La Casera–Bahamontes	25
124	Jesús Esperanza	Spain	La Casera–Bahamontes	54
125	José Gómez	Spain	La Casera–Bahamontes	DNF
126	Félix González	Spain	La Casera–Bahamontes	DNF
127	Jesús Manzaneque	Spain	La Casera–Bahamontes	39
128	Agustín Tamames	Spain	La Casera–Bahamontes	DNF
129	Dámaso Torres	Spain	La Casera–Bahamontes	38
130	Pedro Torres	Spain	La Casera–Bahamontes	13
131	José Viejo	Spain	La Casera–Bahamontes	DNF
132	Juan Zurano	Spain	La Casera–Bahamontes	DNF

By nationality※

This section is: empty. Needs a table similar to the one found in the List of teams and cyclists in the 2010 Tour de France#By nationality. You can help by adding to it. (January 2015)

References※