Ag2r-La Mondiale have announced their line-up for the first race on European soil, Sunday's GP La Marseillaise. The team will be led by Romain Bardet and Samuel Dumoulin in their first outing on home soil.

The road season has kicked off in countries like Gabon, Argentina and Australia and on Sunday it will open in cycling's traditional European heartland. While the GP Costa degli Etruschi will be the first event in Italy, the GP La Marseillaise will as always be the opening race in France.

Ag2-La Mondiale have announced a roster that will be eager to perform well in their home first home race. The team will be spearheaded be Samuel Dumoulin who is perfectly suited to the race in the south of France.

The race is held on a hilly course around Marseille and has both been won by breakaways and sprints from reduced pelotons. This makes it a race for Dumoulin who is both a fast finisher and a solid climber and has a history of starting his seasons strongly. Dumoulin has a strong history in the race, having won the 2012 edition and finishing 2nd in 2013, 3rd in 2010 and 5th in 2008.

Dumoulin will be joined by Romain Bardet who will start a season that should see him improve on his 15th place in last year's Tour de France. The Frenchman will hope for a hard, selective race after finishing 12th in 2012.

Mikael Cherel who was 8th in 2012, will be another option for the team, the Frenchman both possessing a fast finish and good climbing legs. Breakaway specialist Blel Kadri will be eager to get into his first escape of the year while climber Hubert Dupont will support his leaders on the ascents.

Alexis Vuillermoz and Alexis Gougeard will make their debut in Ag2r colours, with the former having joined from Sojasun and the latter riding his first professional race. The team is completed by Canadian time trialist Huge Houle.

Ag2r has had a mixed start to the season, with Domenico Pozzovivo finishing 10th in the Tour de San Luis and Maxime Bouet having bad luck in the Tour Down Under.

Ag2r-La Mondiale for the GP La Marseillaise:

Romain Bardet, Samuel Dumoulin, Mikael Cherel, Hubert Dupont, Alexis Gougeard, Hugo Houle, Blel Kadri and Alexis Vuillermoz