According to French sports daily L’Équipe, the French Cycling Federation has announced its pre-selection for the 2013 UCI Road World Championships in Florence, Italy, at the end of September. The men's team to challenge for the Worlds will be cut down to their allocation of nine riders, the highest number possible, with the final selection scheduled for September 15.

Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma-Quickstep), who won the French Time Trial Championships three months ago and finished as runner-up in the road race, headlines the selection and will be pinning his hopes on being able to maintain the form that allowed him to claim a stage win at the recent Eneco Tour.

The parcours for the world road championships is very undulating this year and the tough challenges awaiting the riders will make the final selection fascinating, though riders such as Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) and Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) seem like probable starters. National coach Bernard Bourreau also included the 2013 Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian winner, Tony Gallopin (RadioShack-Leopard), in the team after he was left off the initial listing.

French team for UCI Road World Championships (men):

Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma-Quick Step), Jérémy Roy (FDJ.fr), Romain Bardet (AG2R - La Mondiale), Warren Barguil (Argos - Shimano), Jérôme Coppel (Cofidis), Tony Gallopin (Radioshack),
Cyril Gautier (Europcar), Blel Kadri (AG2R - La Mondiale), Amaël Moinard (BMC), Thibaut Pinot (FDJ.fr), Christophe Riblon (AG2R - La Mondiale), Anthony Roux (FDJ.fr), Arthur Vichot (FDJ.fr) and
Thomas Voeckler (Europcar).