FDJ have finalized most of their roster for the Tour de France and made it clear that there is no room for Nacer Bouhanni in the French race. Instead, his archrival Arnaud Demare will be the protected rider in the sprints while Thibaut Pinot will target the overall standings.

Ever since he was omitted from the roster for Milan-Sanremo, it has been an open question whether there would be room for both Arnaud Demare and Nacer Bouhanni in the FDJ team for the Tour de France. Now the team management has made up its mind and decided to leave Bouhanni at home.

Bouhanni made his debut in the race 12 months ago but abandoned the race early on due to illness. He had hoped to return to the race in 2014 and made it clear that he would have no problem lining up alongside Demare.

Demare has never done the race and in fact decided not to do a grand tour in 2014. This year, however, the second part of his season has been solely built around the French grand tour and it has always been clear that he was set to make his debut in the race.

Bouhanni did a very successful Giro d'Italia where he won three stages and the points jersey and recently showed that he is still in excellent condition when he finished third in a very mountainous stage of the Route du Sud. His coach has claimed that he has never been stronger than he is right now but that has not been enough to secure a spot on the roster.

“That’s the way it is,” Bouhanni told L’Équipe on Monday afternoon. “The FDJ management have made their choice and I respect their decision even if I’m disappointed because this year the Tour was going through the Vosges [his home region]. But I’m not going to cry because I wasn’t picked for the Tour. I’m going to concentrate on the French championships and take advantage of my current form to try to put together a fine performance.”

Instead, Demare will be the sole leader in the sprints and he will be supported by lead-out men Mickael Delage and William Bonnet who are both part of his personal train. Classics specialist Matthieu Ladagnous will also be on hand to provide support in the bunch kicks.

A second part of the roster is built around Thiabut Pinot who hopes to make up for last year's disappointment. In his debut two years ago he finished 10th and won a stage and last year he finished 7th in the Vuelta a Espana. His team hopes that he will again be able to mix it up with the best in the overall standings and he can count on an in-form Arnold Jeannesson to support him in the mountains.

French champion Arthur Vichot will targets success in the hilly stages while time trial specialist Jeremy Roy will be able to offer support in all terrains. The final spot will go to either Francis Mourey or Cedric Pineau, with a decision set to be made after the French championships.

"In the Tour, the first experience can be very painful for a great sprinter," Marc Madiot said about Demare's debut. "Marcel Kittel, Mark Cavendish or Andre Greipel have all gone through it. Nacer was a great sprinter in 2013 and there was no reason to question his value after a difficult first Tour. Nacer suffered in his first Tour and less than a year later he was the best sprinter in the Giro. Arnaud will start calmly and do his best. It is time for him to experience the Tour."

"Regarding Thibaut, last year showed that things can change quickly. My team is strong but we go to the Tour with acution. We have not forgotten what happened. In 2012, the media wondered when Thibaut would win the Tour. Last year the media did not spare him. Thiabut has just finished the Tour de Suisse with good legs but he suffered and will undergo medical treatment."

"[The other riders] go to the Tour to do their job. If there had not been a stage with cobbles or if there had been a TTT, the team would have been the same. Every rider knows what he has to do. We have two natural leader and seven riders who will work for them. We won't attack from the gun to get airtime on TV, that eblongs to the past. And I know that we can count on Matthieu and Arthur if we need to change strategy along the way.

"Nacer did a great Giro d'Italia and Route du Sud and has proved that he is still in great shape but it can be the end of his cycle. Anyway, I want to go to the Tour with riders that are 100% focused on the Tour. I told him that, explained it to him and he accepted it. Nacer and I have a plan."

FDJ for the Tour de France:

Thirbaut Pinot, Arthur Vichot, Arnold Jeannesson, Jeremy Roy, Arnaud Demare, Matthieu Ladagnous, William Bonnet, Michael Delage and either Cedric Pineau or Francis Mourey