Thibaut Pinot took much of the attention at yesterday's presentation of the FDJ team. Third last year behind Vincenzo Nibali and Jean-Christophe Péraud, the French climber is cautious about his chances of repeating that performance in the Tour de France. "The podium may have come too soon. A top 5 in the next Tour would be fine," he said, according to L'Equipe.

However, Pinot does not hide his ambitions. "Fortunately Marc [Madiot, manager] said we can win the Tour de France. That is my ambition, so it's good to believe in me. In fact, there is very little chance that I will be back on the podium this year but if I have the same form as in 2014, I am not afraid of going for it, even against the Fantastic Four, Contador, Nibali, Froome and Quintana, plus Rodriguez. I am more afraid of crashing and illness than my opponents. There will be incidents. I plan to keep an eye on the favorites and will try to win a stage and move up in the GC. I have more freedom this year," he said.

Pinot points to Steve Morabito who has been an important domestique for Cadel Evans at BMC, as "my right hand."

His schedule includes the Grand Prix Cycliste la Marseillaise, Etoile de Bessèges, Tour of Oman, Tirreno-Adriatico, Classica Corsica, Critérium International, Tour of the Basque Country, Fleche Wallonne and Tour de Romandie. And he has two possible paths to the Tour: Boucles de Mayenne and Tour de Suisse or Critérium Dauphiné and Route du Sud.

Steve Morabito (BMC), Kevin Reza (Europcar) and neo-pros Lorrenzo Manzin and Marc Sarreau are the four new signings of the team. The roster is completed by experienced riders like William Bonnet, Sebastien Chavanel, Murilo Fischer, Anthony Geslin, Arnold Jeannesson, Matthieu Ladagnous, Yoann Offredo, Jeremy Roy, Benoit Vaugrenard and Arthur Vichot and young riders Arnaud Courteille, Kenny Elissonde, Alexandre Geniez, Johan Le Bon, Olivier Le Gac, Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier and the second team leader Arnaud Demare.