Christophe Riblon has extended his contract with the Ag2r La Mondiale team for an additional 3 years. The 32-year-old Frenchman hopes to repay the confidence by shining in one-week stage races and one-day races.

Earlier this year, Christophe Riblon enjoyed the proudest moment of his sporting life when he won the big stage to Alpe d'Huez in the Tour de France. The win saved the race for his Ag2r team which had lost GC rider Jean-Christophe Peraud 24 hours earlier.

That win may have contributed to the decision from his team to extend their contract with the former track rider for an additional 3 year. Having started his career on the French team in 2005, Riblon will now stay in his familiar surrounding until the end of the 2016 season.

The Alpe d'Huez win was his second Tour stage victory following his 2010 triumph on Ax-3-Domaines. Besides his successful escapes in the three-week races, he has marked himself out as a strong rider for week-long stage races and recently finished 3rd in the Tour de Pologne.

“I’m very proud to wear the colours of the Ag2r La Mondiale team for another three years," he said. I want to thank [team manager] Vincent Lavenu and our sponsors who have trusted me for nine years and who are still at my side. I want to build on the great results I obtained this summer and to pay the team back for the trust they have shown me. I know I’m able to obtain excellent results in WorldTour one-week races. I also have ambitions in one-day races like Milan-Sanremo.”

Having been part of the team for almost a decade, Riblon plays a crucial role on the French squad.

“I’m pleased to have reached an agreement with Christophe," manager Vincent Lavenu said. "He not only accomplished an amazing feat this year, he is also an essential and important rider in our team. He has a long history with us. He always defended the colours of the Ag2r La Mondiale team with enthusiasm and honour and this agreement is only natural.”

Riblon will race the GP Quebec later today.