MTN is clearly the better team of the two, but the difference is not big enough to expect ASO to cut a decent french team like Bretagne for MTN, so the selection was quite logical. This selection will give Bretagne a boost and will help secure the development of french riders in the future and secure a lot of french riders in breakaways this year. And if a rider like Romain Feillu can find his old form again he also has about the same level as Ciolek, plus a rider like Vachon could even win a stage if he hit the right break away, so the difference is really not that big.
And MTN should get their wild card in the Vuelta anyways, where only Caja Rural and likely the boring Cofidis can be ahead of them for the last 4 wild cards. So all in all I think the wildcards for the TDF are fine. What is really interesting now is who will get the 4. wild card in the Vuelta, where teams like Wanty and United Healtcare maybe looks to have a realistic chance this year with all the better teams riding either Giro or TDF.
And MTN should get their wild card in the Vuelta anyways, where only Caja Rural and likely the boring Cofidis can be ahead of them for the last 4 wild cards. So all in all I think the wildcards for the TDF are fine. What is really interesting now is who will get the 4. wild card in the Vuelta, where teams like Wanty and United Healtcare maybe looks to have a realistic chance this year with all the better teams riding either Giro or TDF.