Ag2r will go into the new race Tour La Provence from Tuesday to Thursday with sprinters Samuel Dumoulin and Maxime Daniel and recent winner of the final stage of La Mediterraneenne Jan Bakelants.

"I was at the Marseillaise, but I have not raced since then," Dumoulin said. "I was ill and I did not ride for ten days. This is the beginning of the season and it is not dramatic. So I only have one day of racing at the moment, but this downtime definitely helped me regain some freshness.

"I was able to study the course of Provence which is a new race. The first tsage may be very nervous and decisive for the general classification. It includes the difficulties of the Marseillaise, but also the climb in Cassis that should suit punchers. I think the Tour de Provence will be a good race to resume competition."

Following a bout of gastroenteritis, Cyril Gautier will be replaced by Maxime Daniel.

Line-up

Jan BAKELANTS
Maxime DANIEL
Samuel DUMOULIN
Patrick GRETSCH
Jean-Christophe PERAUD
Christophe RIBLON
Julien BERARD
Nico DENZ