# List of teams and cyclists in the 1973 Tour de France

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:
| Gan–Mercier Sonolor Carpenter–Shimano–Flandria Peugeot–BP Bic Watney–Maes | Rokado Gitane–Frigécrème Canada Dry–Gazelle De Kova–Lejeune Kas La Casera–Bahamontes |

## Start list
### By team

Gan–Mercier :
| Gan–Mercier No.RiderPos. 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.RiderPos. 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.RiderPos. 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.RiderPos. 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.RiderPos. 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.RiderPos. 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.RiderPos. 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.RiderPos. 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.RiderPos. 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.RiderPos. 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.RiderPos. 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.RiderPos. 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

Legend :
| No. | Starting number worn by the rider during the Tour |
| Pos. | Position in the general classification |
| DNF | Denotes a rider who did not finish |
| No. | Name | Nationality | Team | Pos. |
| 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 |