23 (!) Teams for 2011 Giro d'Italia

Twenty three teams, yes 23, have been invited to participate in the 2011 Giro d'Italia (94° Giro d’Italia, 7-29 May). Each team will have 9 riders bringing the total number of riders to 207. This exceeds the UCI's 200 rider limit for a grand tour but the UCI granted an exemption due to the the fact that the Giro is part of this year's celebrations in Italy for the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy.

Following are the 18 teams qualified under the UCI's ProTeam category and the 5 teams from the UCI's Continental Team category:
- AG2R La Mondiale (Fra)
- BMC Racing Team (Usa)
- Euskaltel-Euskadi (Spa)
- HTC-Highroad (Usa)
- Katusha Team (Rus)
- Lampre-ISD (Ita)
- Leopard-Trek (Lus)
- Liquigas-Cannondale (Ita)
- Movistar Team (Spa)
- Omega Pharma-Lotto (Bel)
- Pro Team Astana (Kaz)
- QuickStep Cycling Team (Bel)
- Rabobank Cycling Team (Ola)
- Saxo Bank-Sungard (Dan)
- Sky Pro Cycling (GB)
- Team Garmin-Cervelo (Usa)
- Team RadioShack (Usa)
- Vacansoleil-DCM (Ola)

UCI's Continental Team

- Acqua & Sapone (Ita)
- Androni Giocattoli (Ita)
- Colnago-CSF (Ita)
- Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli (GB)
- Geox-TMC (Spa)

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