Ag2r have announced the first seven riders for the 9-rider team for the Tour de France.

Jan Bakelants, Romain Bardet, Mikaël Chérel, Cyril Gautier, Alexis Gougeard,Domenico Pozzovivo and Alexis Vuillermoz will form the core of the team. The two remaining places will be determined after the National Championships this week.

"Our team is ambitious, with a leader, Romain Bardet, surrounded by Domenico Pozzovivo (first participation), Jan Bakelants, Mikaël Chérel, Cyril Gautier, Alexis Gougeard and Alexis Vuillermoz, who are talented and consistent. We want to play a role in the GC but also aim at stage victories. The teams classification is also important for us. The last weeks have proved that our riders are able to reach these goals," General Manager Vincent Lavenu says.

It remains to be seen whether Jean-Christophe Peraud will return to the Tour in his final season. The veteran crashed out of the Giro and returned to racing at the GP Kanton Aargau and Tour de Suisse where he woull assess his form and decide whether to focus on the Tour or the Vuelta.