AG2R-Citroën with O’Connor as leader

Ben O’Connor. ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT / AFP

The team AG2R-Citroen relies on Ben O’Connor to aimthe Top 5” on the Tour de France (July 1-23) where the Australian will be surrounded by three experienced climbers and runners like Benoît Cosnefroy, according to the team announced on Monday.

“Our leader will obviously be Ben O’Connor, he made a great Dauphiné which he finished third. He’s a boy who is in good shape and who can be counted on“said team manager Vincent Lavenu during a video press conference. O’Connor, fourth in the Tour in 2021 and who retired to injury last year, will be surrounded by three climbers, Felix Gall, Clément Berthet and Aurélien Paret-Peintre, “road captain» and stage winner on the Giro.

Of the “boys of experience, solidlike Nans Peters, 5th in the French Championships on Sunday, the Belgians Oliver Naesen and Stan Dewulf, as well as Benoit Cosnefroy complete the selection. “Benoît is one of our leaders. Even if he has not always been successful on the Tour, we know that we can have good surprises with him. He’s a high-flying puncherLavenu insisted. Among the absentees are 2016 Olympic champion Greg Van Avermaet, “in difficulty in the mountains on the Dauphiné while the Tour route is extremely difficult“, as well as Dorian Godon and Franck Bonnamour who will be respectively first and second substitute, in the event of a problem between now and the departure on Saturday in Bilbao.

AG2R-Citroën’s selection for the Tour de France : Ben O’Connor (AUS), Felix Gall (AUT), Clément Berthet (FRA), Aurélien Paret-Peintre (FRA), Nans Peters (FRA), Oliver Naesen (BEL), Stan Dewulf (BEL), Benoit Cosnefroy ( FRA)