Bryan Coquard won 6 races last season and wants more success in 2014.

His Europcar team has been promoted to the WorldTour and he can’t wait to start racing again at this weekend’s GP La Marseillaise.

"It is going to be a pivotal year. We have just stepped up to the WorldTour, which means more big races, without wanting to denigrate the Coupe de France events or the other races that I did last year. In my mind, there are no small or big races, the important thing is simply to be able to raise your arms and celebrate victory," he said. "However, I don't expect to win as often when I'm mixing it regularly with the best. I would prefer to win one race, but a really big one. A stage win at Paris-Nice suit would suit me very well." He told Ouest France.

He is a sprinter, but one who sees himself as being able to deal with a climb or two. He strongly believes his future lies in the Classics as well as bunch sprints. He is very confident he can not only get over the climbs, but that he can also be very close to the front on them, right up there with the best.

“In the future I can imagine winning races which finish on climbs that are three or four kilometers long," he said.

He knows his lead out will not be able to rival that of Cavendish or Kittel’s, but he is confident the arrival of FDJ’s Jimmy Engoulvent can bring him more success.

“Ideally, Jimmy will make an effort to up to 500 meters and put me on the wheel I want. That's more how we'll play things this year," said Coquard, who bullishly notes that his aim is to become the best sprinter in the sport.

He should be able to judge how far he has to go to achieve that objective when he lines up at the Tour de France this summer. "My whole season has been built around me being at my peak in July. I would really like to go there with all guns blazing."