The nine riders of the Fortuneo-Vital Concept team for the Tour de France are now known. While Eduardo Sepulveda, Chris Anker Sørensen, Anthony Delaplace, Florian Vachon, Pierre-Luc Périchon and Vegard Breen had already secured their selection, three spots remained to be filled after the national championships. In the end, Daniel McLay, Brice Feillu and Armindo Fonseca earned the trust of the staff.
Stage winner in Andorra at his first Tour de France in 2009, Brice Feillu will participate for the sixth time.
"He knows the Tour very well and knows how to get through the event. He will continue to grow during the first week, he will be offensive and why can't he repeat the coup at Arcalis," sports director Sebastien Hinault says.
Sixteenth at the Tour in 2014, Brice Feillu will also have a domestique role.
"We want to see him get as far as possible with the captains in the mountains," concludes Sébastien Hinault.
Brice Feillu said:
"It's a relief to be part of the selection even though I have always believed in it. My goal does not stop by being at the Tour or even finishing it. I'm in growing form and I'm going to make a beautiful result."
While the team had not made a major objective in the sprints at the 2015 Tour de France, it will work for Daniel McLay in 2016. Sébastien Hinault, sprinter until 2014, sees physical qualities of a great sprinter in Daniel McLay.
"He is the revelation of the year. After winning the GP Denain, he realized his potential and the good results have continued. His objective will be to do as much as possible in the sprints. I have identified six stages that might suit him. He is fast, he's tough, he knows his place and how to make his teammates trust him. We will play the game and hope for the best. "
The English sprinter will make his grand tour debut.
"I'm looking forward to this challenge even if the pressure will be high at the start," he said. "I remember watching the race on television when I was younger. I imagined being there. I will do my best in the sprints and help the team."
To best prepare his sprints, Dan McLay can count on Vegard Breen, already selected, and Armindo Fonseca. The Breton was present in the last two editions with the team.
"They will be asked to position Daniel McLay in the final," says Sébastien Hinault.
In hillier stages, Fonseca will play his own card. "In in false flat finishes, Armindo has the kick."
"I am very happy to be at the Tour," he says. "I want to show the staff that they made the right choice. I will be present for my leaders to protect Dan and Eduardo before the climbs. I respect the role that they give me during the briefings, but if I can try things in hilly stages, I will take my chance."
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