After two consecutive top 10 finishes, Romain Bardet is again targeting success at the Tour de France. The French climber was one of several Ag2r riders that attended today's presentation of the course.

"This is a fairly new course," he said. "We are not in the same routine as in previous editions This Tour de France attaches considerable importance to the montains. In the 5th stage we arrive in Cantal, near my house. These are my training routes, the roads of my heart. We will start this Tour with a beautiful show and riders should long remember this passage in a beautiful area. I like the course."

With Jean-Christophe Peraud set to do the Giro, Bardet will share the leadership with Alexis Vuillermoz.

"It is a Tour that is good for attackers because the finish often comes after a descent from the last climb which is more conducive to single riders or small groups," Vuillermoz said. "Last year, I failed to shine in a mountain stage, I was very marked and disappointed. I want to show that I can be a climber, not just a puncheur . The Tour passes through the Jura mountains, that is my area and I know the roads well. The public will be behind me and it will be an important moment in this Tour de France."

Sebastien Minard and former stage winner Christophe Riblon were also present in Paris.

"It is a very beautiful course and it inspires me a lot," Riblon said. "There will be no quiet day. We will have something interesting on the menu each day. You have to be focused from the first to the last day. A lot of stages can suit me and will be conducive to attackers."

"Attending the presentation of the Tour de France is still exciting," Minard said. "The last stage starts in Chantilly, this is my home. If I can get a selection for a seventh Tour de France, it will be a big emotion to be starting in Chantilly. I was not in the Tour this year so it will be my main goal for 2016."

"It's always a pleasure to discover the course," manager Vincent Lavenu said. "Before the presentation, I try to avoid hearing the rumors on social networks. It is a dynamic Tour which gives pride to the mountains and the Alps. The course should suit our riders and AG2R La Mondiale. The 2016 Tour de France is an ideal playground. I hope that AG2R will live up to our expectations."

"It is a nice course which seems to me particularly difficult in the last two weeks," sports director Julien Jurdie. "There are many new climbs and it is interesting for the AG2R La Mondiale team. We will have beautiful playing cards. I am satisfied. The time trials are aggressive and difficult which is interesting for us."