FDJ have boosted their team significantly by signing Jacopo Guarnieri (Katusha), Tobias Ludvigsson (Giant-Alpecin) and Rudy Molard (Cofidis).

Guarnieri stands out as the big coup for the French team as the Italian will be a big boost to Arnaud Demare’s lead-out train. Working for Alexander Kristoff, the Italian has developed into one of the best in the business, most notably at last year’s Tour where Katusha and Guarnieri dominated most of the sprints.

The addition of Guarnieri is a clear reinforcement for Demare who has often lost out due to poor positioning and there is little doubt that Kristoff will lament the loss of his most important support rider.

Ludvigsson comes to the team from Giant-Alpecin where has mostly done well in time trials. After a few years of slow progress, he has taken a big step in 2016, most notably with his fourth place in the opening time trial at the Giro d’Italia. The signing of Ludvigsson is a big boost to the team’s chance in the team time trials where they have made lots of improvement during the last 12 months.

Finally, Molard strengthens the teams in the mountains. The Cofidis rider is an aggressive and punchy rider who has won a stage and been on the podium at the Tour du Limousin and been in the top 5 at the Tour de Luxembourg twice. He is another element in the team’s attempt to surround Thibaut Pinot by stronger climbers after they signed Steve Morabito for the 2015 season and Sebastien Reichenbach for the current season.