After the first two promising pro seasons, Alexis Gougeard was rewarded with a spot in the training camp of the French national team during the off-season. Coach Bernard Bourreau counts on him for the years to come as he has proved to be one of the biggest talents among young Frenchmen of the rising generation. In 2016, Gougeard mainly wants to confirm his early career and continue his progress.

Alexis Gougeard’s talent is undeniable. The AG2R-La Mondiale rider finished his second professional season with a bang as he won the stage to Avila in the Vuelta and won the overall at the Tour de l’Eurométropole, his two best memories of the season. The success has given him new ideas. "It was tough to get because I only had an advantage of three seconds,” he tells Cyclingpro.net about his stage race success. “There was some stress every day. It gave me ideas for the future for one-week races where I think I can get some interesting results. “ In the Belgian race, he continued to attack while wearing the jersey. "It's  my trademark,” he said with a smile. “I need to attack to find out whether I am feeling good. When I stay in the pack to find out whether I feel bad, I do not know if I have the legs.”

The indefatigable Alexis Gougeard impressed more than once and joined many climbers at the French camp in Termignon to prepare the next international races. While there is much talk about the Olympics, he is focused on the Worlds. "The route for the Olympic Games is not made for me,” he says. “Later there is the World Championships in Qatar who profile is more appropriate for my  abilities." Delighted to be present among the best of French cycling, he remains ambitious. "To wear  the colors of France is an honor,” he said. “Now I have one foot in the camp and I must try to keep it and continue.”

For this, he will prove himself in his Ag2r team “by winning races.” Manager Vincent Lavenu has admitted that Gougeard has a new status after two impressive seasons. "It's nice to know that I will be protected and sometimes can play my card in the finale of some races and maybe pick up some wins. Until now I did not have the level and I do not want to be protected for doing nothing.”

Gougeard who likes the heat, will start the season early in Australia and Oman before facing a temperature contrast on returning to Europe to prepare for his first big objective of the season, the cobbled classics and especially the Hell of the North. "I'm not necessarily having a lot of fun in these races,” he said about the classic which he discovered this season. “But Paris-Roubaix is a race that I love. I'll try to get a good result." He also hopes to discover Paris-Nice and the Dauphiné to prepare for the Tour de France for a possible first appearance. "In the Tour, we will have a team with riders who focus on the GC,” he said. “I will have to work and it will allow me to discover the race. I want to try my luck there and why not get a stage win. It would be huge. “

To imitate Alexis Vuillermoz, winner on the Mûr-de-Bretagne this year, will not be easy, especially as the young talent is now a marked man, but that does not scare him as the mind is perhaps his greatest strength. "I like the pressure. That is something that I know how to handle and that is positive,” he said. “The mind is my biggest strength. When I have something in my head, I do everything for it. I am determined to go all the way like I did for my victory in the Vuelta.”

In the midst of a golden generation, surrounded by Bardet, Vuillermoz and Latour at AG2R, Gougeard has managed to stand out and hopes that the road will lead him to Roubaix, the Tour and the World. He refuses to be compared to his teammates. "I look at my own career, not that of others,” he said. “I am aware that I have had a good start but I also know that there is still a lot of work to do. I must continue because things can quickly turn around.”