Ag2r will make their European debut at the GP La Marseillaise on Sunday, followed by the Etoile de Besseges stage race from February 3-7.

Romain Bardet will be the big-name rider in the line-up for the opening one-day race where they are likely to go for victory with former winner Samuel Dumoulin.

"Wintertime went well," Bardet said. "I stopped training after Saitama Criterium (Japan). I rested and prepared my oral exams and my diploma thesis. I kept fit by doing other sports. I resumed training on November 15. With the team training camp in Oisans (France) and Spain and my personal training, time went by fast. I now have a place in South of France that is ideal to train. I am very satisfied with the individual and collective work of the last weeks and with my form."

Bardet is pleased with the outcome of 2015.

"I carried on with my progression," he said, "with highlights such as the stage victories in Tour de France and the Criterium du Dauphiné. There were harder times too. I analyzed that with the staff and I am very optimistic. The Ag2r staff and method structured itself during the last months. We are going to benefit from these evolutions."

He is now ready for his debut.

"I look forward to that race. The first competition of a season is always a special moment. I am used to participating in  GP La Marseillaise. I have no personal ambition but the team is strong and I hope I can help my teammates," he said.

"I hope I will continue to progress in the suitable races like Liege-Bastogne-Liege and mountain stage races. I love the 2016 Tour de France, that will cross Massif Central and Auvergne, my region of origin. Of course, I will have real ambitions for the Olympics. I finished 3rd in the test event last year. The course is very interesting and the Olympics are a special moment in the career of a rider."

Line-up for GP La Marseillaise

Romain BARDET
Julien BERARD
Mikaël CHEREL
Nico DENZ
Samuel DUMOULIN
Hubert DUPONT
Ben GASTAUER
Hugo HOULE

Line-up for Etoile de Bessèges 

François BIDARD
Guillaume BONNAFOND
Nico DENZ
Hubert DUPONT 
Quentin JAUREGUI 
Blel KADRI 
Pierre LATOUR
Jean-Christophe PERAUD