Key points:
 The end of the 2022 season has witnessed the emergence on the calendar of an event set to bring together a selection of riders from among the major players on the Tour de France: the first edition of the Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium will take place on 30th October.
 To inaugurate the route that will take in a part of the Formula 1 circuit, the winner of the Tour de France 2022, Jonas Vingegaard, will once again be donning the Yellow Jersey he won this summer and will be accompanied by elite riders who have left their mark on the recent history of the event, such as Chris Froome, Vincenzo Nibali, Alejandro Valverde or Mark Cavendish.

For its first visit to Singapore, the Tour de France pack will arrive in a reduced format, representing the excellence of the battles played out on French roads during the month of July, with three winners of the event and 10 riders who, thanks to the strength of their legs, have victoriously raised their arms and received the stage winner’s bouquet for a joint total of 59 times. The man with most of these victories is of course none other than Mark Cavendish, the joint record holder for stage wins with 34 successes obtained between 2008 and 2021. The British sprinter has written his name over much of the French map but has never won a Tour de France stage outside the country’s borders. His famous speed and double kick may give him the opportunity to taste victory on the urban route through Singapore, which will take in several portions of the Marina Bay circuit that hosted the Formula 1 grand prix last weekend.

Even as a two times winner of the Green Jersey (in 2011 and 2021), “Cav” will be sharing top billing at the Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium with other high calibre title hunters: Chris Froome is one that particularly stands out, having dominated the general classification four times, whilst the career of Vincenzo Nibali demands respect, having also won, like his British counterpart, each of the three grand tours. Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard joined the exclusive club of Tour de France winners last summer by conquering the Yellow Jersey in the mountains and keeping it until the Champs-Elysées. Although he was lucky enough to wear the same tunic for two days of the race in 2008, it was on La Vuelta that the soon to be retired Alejandro Valverde won his only grand tour in 2009. The atmosphere that will overcome Singapore for this Criterium could awaken nostalgia for that winning feeling in the Spanish former world champion.

Riders participating (as of 06/10):

Jumbo-Visma: Jonas Vingegaard (Dnk), Sepp Kuss (Usa)

Cofidis: Simon Geschke, Max Walscheid (Deu), Tom Bohli (Che), Axel Zingle (Fra)

Israel-Premier Tech: Chris Froome (Gbr), Simon Clarke (Aus), Hugo Houle, Guillaume Boivin (Can)

Intermarché – Wanty Gobert Matériaux: Jan Hirt (Cze), Andrea Pasqualon (Ita), Barnabas Peak (Hun), Théo Delacroix (Fra)

Team BikeExchange – Jayco: Callum Scotson (Aus)

Movistar Team: Alejandro Valverde, Enric Mas, Jose Joaquin Rojas, Imanol Erviti (Esp)

Astana Qazaqstan Team: Vincenzo Nibali, Antonio Nibali, Samuele Battistella, Gianmarco Garofoli (Ita)

Legend Team: Mark Cavendish (Gbr), Jasper Philipsen (Bel).