Romain Bardet hopes to be at the top of his gaame next summer. His mail goal is the Tour de France but he would like to be selected for the Olympic Games too. According to the Ag2r la Mondiale rider, La Grande Boucle will be the best preparation for the Olympic road race even if these events are so close together.

"For me it is better because you can maintain the pressure. There is less doubt because it is so soon after the Tour," Bardet told Cyclingnews. "I’m always in good shape after a Grand Tour. For sure I am tired but I have a good feeling on the bike, and the Olympics is really good for climbers, especially for me. If you have one month or more then you have to train again so the training for the Olympics is the Tour. I’m really happy with how the calendar is made and I hope to be in as good shape as the past few years.

"I will be 25 and the Olympics will be really hilly so I really want to be in the French team for that event, and I really want to train hard for that. But you have to be lucky to have a good Tour – you could crash at the Tour and be at home for the Olympics."

“I don’t want to think it is a waste of energy but for sure if you fight for the general classification you have to go full gas in all of the stages. It is a lot of pressure and you are tired at the end but that is the kind of rider that I want it to become," Bardet added. "Next year I will fight again for the overall classification first and then see how it works."