the italian team, had been absent 1936 tour de france, returned in 1937, after benito mussolini removed boycott of tour, , selected new star gino bartali, had won 1936 , 1937 giro d italia, italian team leader. italian team had 10 cyclists, belgian, german , french teams. there small teams of 6 cyclists: spanish, dutch, luxembourgian , swiss teams. last national team great britain-canada team, consisting of 2 british cyclists , 1 canadian. the french team included roger lapébie. lapébie had had difficult relation desgrange. had caused lapébie out of national team in 1935, , absent tour in 1936. in 1937, desgrange had retired, , lapébie back. in month before tour started, lapébie had undergone surgery lumbur hernia, , there doubts form. there 31 cyclists riding individuals. these individuals responsible own food , accommodation. the teams entering race were: