With 54 riders between them, France (35) and Belgium (19) are the most represented teams on this year’s Tour with several teams also featuring Belgian and French personnel.
French team AG2R-La Mondiale, for example, features one Belgian rider, Oliver Naesen, as well as chef Benoit Bavay and physiotherapist Sylvie Troka.
“We have the numbers,” team sports director Julien Jurdie said before the start of stage 2.
“Oliver loves football and tomorrow at 8pm, he’ll stay in his bedroom. He shares his room with (Frenchman) Alexis (Vuillermoz) - one of them might end up with a black eye.
“I’m kind of scared that Benoit won’t cook for us anymore if we win, or worse, he might poison us,” he joked.
“One thing is sure: They’ll be the first to drink beers. I don’t know about scoring goals, though,” said Yoann Offredo, one of two French riders in Belgian team Wanty-Groupe Gobert.
“France will win 3-2.”
World Cup at the Tour de France
Sky is confident of England's form:
The Team Sky sweep from earlier this week:
Sky's Colombian rider Egan Bernal drew England in the team sweep and with their progression and form, he's probably laughing now, but dying a little on the inside after the Three Lions knocked out his countrymen in the round of 16.
In quite the reverse of Bernal's situation, Belgian Serge Pauwels drew Brazil in Team Dimension Data's sweep, but he's still pretty happpy about that result.
Meanwhile Cav's on trend, and on brand:
You can watch all the semi-final World Cup action LIVE on SBS from 4am 11& 12 July. Click for how to watch.
