Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale), Richie Porte (Trek Segafredo), Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana), and Fabio Al (UAE Team Emirates) will compete in the 2nd CIC Mont Ventoux Deniverre Challenge on Thursday, August 6 The team will compete in the following events.

First-time winner Jesús Herrada and Cofidis teammate Guillaume Martin are also among the participants announced by the race organization, confirming that six WorldTour teams will be on the start line in Vaison-la-Romaine.

"The second edition of the CIC Mont Ventoux-Denivelle Challenge promises to be an exciting one. We are very pleased and proud to have such a quality group together just a few days after the season resumes," said race director Nicolas Garcella. [With two climbs of Mont Ventoux on the program, we have all the elements in place to witness an epic battle on a grand stage."

The 180-km race will feature a total climbing distance of approximately 4,000 meters, including two Mont Ventoux climbs. The peloton will first climb to Chalet Reynard, where Thomas de Gendt won a shortened stage in the 2016 Tour de France, before finishing at the summit of Baldy Mountain, 1909 meters above sea level.

Last year, the event was held the day after the Criterium du Dauphiné ended. After the 2020 calendar was revised and reduced due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the second Mont Ventoux-Denivelle Challenge will be held on the eve of the three-day Tour de l'Ain, which begins on August 8.

The shortened 2020 Dauphiné will take place from August 12-16, while the rescheduled Tour de France will start in Nice on August 29.

The six WorldTour teams competing in the Mont Ventoux-Deniverlet Challenge are Trek-Segafredo, AG2R La Mondiale, Cofidis, Groupama-FDJ, Astana and UAE Team Emirates.

Trek-Segafredo will be joined on the provisional start list by Porte and Tour de France co-leader Bauke Mollema, while AG2R La Mondiale teammate Pierre Latour is on the provisional start list for Valdé.

Valentin Madous is expected to lead the Groupama-FDJ. Thibaut Pinot is not expected to race. The Frenchman will race La Route d'Occitanie, the Criterium du Dauphiné, and the French championships before the Tour de France.

The UCI pro team for the Mont Ventoux-Denivelle Challenge peloton includes Direct Energie and Arkea Samsic, but the race was not included in the program Nairo Quintana announced last month at the Tour de la Provence in February. The Colombian, who won in Chalet Reynard, will compete in the Tour de l'Ain and the Criterium du Dauphiné.