If it’s July, it’s time for the Tour de France. But where are the Americans this year?

It’s an odd formula this year. Two American-based teams, Garmin-Chipotle and Columbia, will be competing. And two U.S. squads competing in the storied event in the same year is a first.

But a total of only four Americans will ride in the Tour this year, six fewer than the largest-ever, one-year American contingent.

So, while George Hincapie, Christian Vande Velde, Danny Pate and Will Frischkorn will be competing this year, where are the other American dudes?

In brief:

Floyd Landis, the dethroned 2006 titlist, l
ost his final attempt to overthrow his penalty testosterone offenses.

Levi Leipheimer and Chris Horner, both veterans of the Tour de France (Leipheimer finished third in 2007) ride for Astana, the team exiled from the event this year for its doping offenses under previous team management.

Bobby Julich, another Tour de France veteran, wasn’t selected by his CSC team this year. Julich finished as high as third in the event (1998), but his career is waning (he’s in his last season), and he wasn’t selected for the U.S. Olympic team, either.

As for other former or potential Tour competitors from the United States: David Zabriskie (recovering from an injury), Tom Danielson (wasn’t selected by this team), Fred Rodriguez and Tyler Hamilton (ride for a team not competing in the race).

That's it. Let the Tour begin, but get used to some emerging new names in the peloton.