AG2R Citroen announced this Wednesday their selection for Criterium du Dauphine. It starts in Ardeche on Sunday. Savoyards will depend on their captains to make it in one of its most important races.
Vincent Lavenu's team is centered around Ben O'Connor. The Australian, who finished fourth in the Tour de France last year and eighth in the Dauphine last year, will be the focal point of a collective that will also rely upon Aurelien Paret-Peintre. He has just completed a twenty-day internship at altitude in Sierra Nevada with him.
Haut-Savoyard: "As an climber, I appreciate the effort at altitude to take a pedal stroke and the physiological advantages that this brings," says the Haut-Savoyard. I was originally supposed to compete at the Mercan'Tour Classic Alpes Maritimes, but I developed gastric problems that forced me to stop. After a difficult first season, I am looking forward to the second half of the season with envy. For me and the team, the Criterium du Dauphine race is very important. It is always a pleasure running at home. We will begin with ambition and the desire for Ben O'Connor to be on the podium. The last mountainous weekend is what I'm looking forward to. It's a great test before the Tour de France.
AG2R Citroen will also count on Geoffrey Bouchard (stage winner at the Tour of the Alps) who will find a playground that suits his needs.
Greg van Avermaet and Stan Dewulf will be seeking stage success on a course that offers many opportunities.
Benoit Cosnefroy is the only absentee. Former world champion hopefuls will be riding the Tour de Suisse in order to keep his rise in power for Tour de France which starts in Copenhagen on July 1.
