The French team has selected 12 riders for a gathering of five days in December. It will signal the start of the preparations for the road race at the 2016 Rio Oympics.

National coach Bernard Bourreau has made it clear that he wants to focus on young riders. That is clearly reflected in the selection which is made up of Julian Alaphilippe, Warren Barguil, Nacer Bouhanni, Jérôme Coppel, Arnaud Démare, Armindo Fonseca, Cyril Gautier, Blel Kadri, Thibaut Pinot, Julien Simon, Arthur Vichot and Alexis Vuillermoz.

The gathering will be held between December 1 and 5 in Maurienne "to maintain and enhance team spirit and cohesion of the group," Bourreau says. The program includes workshops, fitness, team sports and excursions, according to the French Federation.

Bardet, Barguil, Bouhanni, Chavanel, Gallopin, Gautier, Péraud, Reza and Soupe were the nine riders who rode at the World Championships in Ponferrada. Surprisingly, neither Gallopin nor Bardet are among the 12 riders selected for the gathering.