Last week Alexandre Geniez had an outstanding ride at the Volta ao Algarve to finish 4th behind major stars Michal Kwiatkowski, Alberto Contador, and Rui Costa. His FDJ team is frustrated that their talented climber lack self-confidence as they are convinced that he has all the capabilities to be a great stage racer.

Given his results as a U23 rider, it comes as no surprise that young Frenchman Alexandre Geniez is an incredible climber. However, he has had little chance to show his abilities since joining the professional ranks.

Having turned professional with Argos-Shimano, he was mostly seen working at the head of the peloton to set up one of the team's many sprinters and the team didn't place much emphasis on the climbing stages. This left Geniez frustrated and for the 2013 season he signed with FDJ to get more personal opportunities.

A lack of confidence and various health issues meant that the first part of his season was a troubled one but he found his legs for the second half. He got close to a stage win in his maiden Tour de France when he finished 4th on the roads to Le Grand Bornand and a few months later he won the big mountain stage to Peyragudes in the Vuelta.

This year he has got his season off to a fabulous start as he finished 4th in last week's Volta ao Algarve. Despite the good result, however, his sports director Franck Pineau was left frustrated as he felt that much more could have been in store if he had had more confidence in himself.

"It's a pity because he's got enormous potential," he told L'Équipe. "When the road goes up he's unbelievable. But he has to realise the full extent of his ability.

"He was more surprised than we were that he was up at the top of the classification. Personally, I find it a bit frustrating. He needs to stop following the action. He still lacks a bit of confidence. I kept on saying to him: ‘Ride your own race, look ahead and don't give a monkey's about what the others are doing behind you.'

"If he only knew how strong he is when the road starts to climb then he would become a really strong performer in the mountains."

Pineau referred to the race's queen stage to the top of the Alto do Malhao where Geniez hadn't even tried to follow eventual stage winner Alberto Contador. Speaking to his rider after the stage, he asked him if he had tried to respond the accelerations.

"He replied to me as if it was the most normal thing in the world: ‘Yes, I could have.' It's a real shame, even a waste. He didn't do so because he was afraid of getting into difficulty. But it is only by trying that he would have known what would have happened.

"He's a born climber, but also gifted in time trials. He is just lacking a touch of devilishness that would enable him to become a great rider."

Geniez himself admits that he lacks confidence in himself.

"I was really motivated for the whole week, I had super form and super legs," he said. I was really happy to be up alongside riders like Contador and Rui Costa. It's good for my morale, because I need confidence."

Geniez will next team up with an in-form Arnold Jeannesson and French champion Arthur Vichot to lead the team in Paris-Nice which starts on March 9.