Cofidis have almost completed their selection for the Tour de France by naming the first 8 riders on the roster. Unsurprisingly, the team will be led by Nacer Bouhanni while Daniel Navarro will target the GC.
Bouhanni made his Tour de France debut in 2013 but abandoned the race in the first week. Last year he was controversially left off the roster despite showing splendid condition in the Route du Sud, with his FDJ team focusing their efforts on rival Arnaud Demare.
Since then, Bouhanni has joined Cofidis as the clear leader of his new team and after a slow start he has finally found his best legs. He won two stages at the Criterium du Dauphiné and two days agao won the Halle-Ingooigem semi-classic.
Bouhanni will be supported by his trusted lead-out man Geoffrey Soupe and youngster Christophe Laporte and Florian Senechal who are expected to form his lead-out train. Julien Simon will also be part of the team and may play a role in the lead-outs as well while also targeting breakaways, reduced bunch sprints and uphill sprints.
The rest of the team is made up of a group of climbers that is led by Daniel Navarrro. The Spaniard abandoned last year's race but bounced back with a stage win and a top 10 finish in the Vuelta. He finished in the top 10 in the 2013 edition of the Tour and agan he will have his eyes on the GC. However, his main goal is to win a stage.
Navarro will be supported by Luis Angel Mate and Nicolas Edet in the hilly terrain.
The final spot will be taken by Cyril Lemoine or Kenneth Vanbilsen who can both play a role in Bouhanni's train. The final decision will be made after Sunday's national championships where both will be in action.
Cofidis for the Tour de France
Nacer Bouhanni, Daniel Navarro, Nicolas Edet, Luis Angel Mate, Geoffrey Soupe, Florian Senechal, Christophe Laporte
The final spot will be taken by Kenneth Vanbilsen or Cyril Lemoine
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