Clément Chevrier will be one of fourteen French riders present at the start of the Giro d'Italia on Saturday. The IAM Cycling rider, offensive in the last Liège-Bastogne-Liège, represents the future of French cycling. 

Interviewed by CyclingQuotes, Chevrier talked about his first months at the World Tour level with the Swiss team and the great performance of his friend Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-Quick Step) in the Ardennes classics. Regarding Giro d’Italia, he hopes to gain experience in a three-week race and also help his leader, Sebastian Reichenbach. Concerning the general classification, he added that it is a very open race, very difficult to predict, but he imagines that we will see a great fight between Richie Porte (Team Sky), who did a great first part of the season, and Alberto Contador (Tinkoff Saxo).

CyclingQuotes: At first, Clément, how are you ? 

Clément Chevrier: I'm fine, thank you. The consequences of my crash at Flèche Wallonne are now cured. The medical staff of my team has done very good work including osteopathy and acupuncture.

CQ: This season, you have joined the IAM Cycling team. How did you experience the first months in the World Tour?

C.C.: I started the season with a light program. At first, the goal was to continue to build the season by training and to make my mark in the professional races. I was happy to be a protagonist in the races in which I participated. 

Then, since the middle of March, my race program was expanded with the discovery of the WorldTour: Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco and the spring classics with Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. It is clear that at this level of racing, it was difficult for me to be at the front of the race. Especially when I had a bronchitis at the end of Catalunya. But the goal was to do good workloads in order to be on form for the Ardennes classics and the Giro.

CQ: Being present at the start of Ardennes classics has to be very rewarding at your age. What did you remember about these races?

C.C.: Without hesitation: nervousness. The roads, the wind, the difficulties, the key moments, the high level of the riders, the pressure of the race, etc. There are so many factors that come into play. They make the race very nervous and unfortunately cause many falls.

CQ: You have certainly witnessed the great performance of Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-Quick Step). You often raced with him, especially in the U23 France team. Have you shared a word with him?

C.C.: I discussed it with him after Liège-Bastogne-Liège. He told me about the finale and added he regretted not having started his sprint earlier... with a simplicity and an incredible lucidity! Julian is the "fun rider" par excellence. Cycling is a game for him and that's what makes him strong. 

It's very nice to see him it evolve at this level. This is also very encouraging for us, the young generation. We say to ourselves that it is possible to shine by being a good worker and obviously talented! He has both these qualities and I am confident that he will have a strong aplmares very quickly.

CQ : You've been selected for the Giro d'Italia. Was your presence in a grand tour was expected early in the season?

C.C.: The goal this season is to ride a grand tour in order to learn and gain experience. Giro or Vuelta ? Difficult choice but Rik Verbrughe and Eddy Seigneur, in whom I have great confidence, convinced me that the Giro would be the best three-week race to for my characteristics. 

I did a few World Tour races in order to get used to this level. Necessarily it is difficult to have confidence when we do the top-level races because of the lack of results, but the goal for this season is really to build for the future.

CQ: How have you heard your selection? What was your reaction?

C.C.: I was very flattered to be selected for the Giro. This is clearly a strong sign of confidence that the team gives me and I really want to thank them on the road. I fully trust Rik and Eddy to manage my progress, I do not expect too much as I approach it with a view to help the team and gain optimum experience, without pressure.

The Giro d'Italia is one of the nicest races in the cycling story that I will ride. Being a big fan of my sport, it's obviously an honor to be selected. But I admit that the event seems so big that I do not quite realize that I will be there.

CQ: How did you prepare this three-week race? Have you had time to look at a few stages?

C.C.: The goal was to do big workloads in March and April with Volta a Catalunya, Vuelta al Pais Vasco and the Ardennes classics, hoping to raise my level of fitness through races. I have not had the opportunity to identify stages unfortunately. However I have to study the roadbook to find out where I can take my chance.

CQ: What is your goal at this Giro? And for IAM Cycling?

C.C.: I would like to finish the race in order to learn for the future and to gain experience. Then, I do not exclude some honorable performances on the stages which suit me. But also, I will help our leader Sebastien Reichenbach in the mountains.

The collective goal is to achieve a good overall classification with Sébastien Reichenbach. I hope to have a role to assist him in the mountains. Then as a governing principle, we will try to target stage wins with experienced riders like Sylvain Chavanel, Jerome Pineau, Stef Clement, ... We have have a good chance of victory in the sprints with Matteo Pelucchi and Heinrich Haussler.

CQ: In your mind, who will win the Giro?

With the beginning of the season that he did, Richie Porte seems to be the main favorite. But I have doubts about his capacity to be at the top in three-week races, unlike Alberto Contador. This Giro d'Italia seems very open and very difficult to predict.