Domencio Pozzovivo and Jean-Christophe Peraud will lead Ag2r in the Giro d'Italia.

"We decided to start the Giro with two team leaders: Jean-Christophe Peraud and Domenico Pozzovivo.They are both really motivated and able to achieve a great things. I think we could aim for a top 5, two riders in the GC top 10 and also a stage victory," sports director Laurent Biondi said. "Then, during the competition, we will evaluate how we could contemplate the team classification. It is possible to win it just like we did in 2014.

"The beginning of the Giro in Netherlands might be tricky because of narrow, winding roads and high wind weather conditions. In addition, the first medium-mountain stage will come as soon as on the first competition day in Italy (May 10th). Obviously, the stage 4 result will not be decisive for the final Giro GC but some riders might already be in trouble. That is why we have to be vigilant on a daily basis and especially during the third week of competition. There will be mountain stages with 2000 meters passes to climb. For sure these stages will seal the 2016 Giro’s fate."

Below, Biondi outlines the goals for each rider in the team.

Guillaume BONNAFOND
(FRA)
Date of Birth: June 23 th, 1987.
28 years old
Professional since:  2009 
Giro: 5th participation​

"Three years after his last participation, Guillaume is coming back to ride the Giro. He has been a member of AG2R LA MONDIALE Pro
Cycling Team since 2009 and we truly appreciate his team spirit. He is a devoted teammate who will do anything to help his leaders. Moreover, his experience about the Giro will be a great asset for us."

Axel DOMONT
(FRA)
Date of Birth: August 7th, 1990.
25 years old
Professional since: 2013

Giro: Third participation

"Axel will ride his third Giro in a row. He has shown great abilities in the early season UCI World Tour races like Paris-Nice and  Vuelta a Catalunya. Obviously, he is an important member of our roster. During the Giro, his main task will be to protect his leaders but he is also able to join the right breakaway for a stage victory."

Hubert DUPONT
(FRA)
Date of Birth: November 13 th, 1980.
35 years old 
Professional since: 2005
Giro: 9th participation

"Hubert is a real specialist and a man you can rely on his experience in every circumstances. In the past, he proved he could do a terrific job for the team while, at the same time, he was remaining at the top of a general classification. He will be a great support to his leaders in middle and high mountain stages. He knows perfectly how to handle the Giro therefore he could advise properly his close friend
Jean-Christophe".

Ten years after his first Giro participation, Huber Dupont is about to ride his 19th Grand Tour, with only one withdrawal. It was due to a crash in the 2012 Tour de France . His best result in the Giro was in 2011 (11th place overall).

Patrick GRETSCH
(DEU)
Date of birth: April 7th, 1987.
29 years old
Professional since 2008​
Giro: 5th participation

"Patrick knows by heart the Giro. Last year he demonstrated he was able to challenge the best riders during the time-trial (4th position on stage 14). He has the proper rouleur profile that will be ideal for the first stages in Netherlands. Most of the time, his mission will consist to be at the service of the leaders in order to protect and support them."

Hugo HOULE 
(CAN)
Date of Birth: September 27 th, 1990. 25 years old
Professional since: 2011
Giro: Second participation

"He discovered the race last year and he successfully finished his first Giro. Now he is coming back with more experience. He is making constant progress, especially in time-trial stages. He went to his hometown in Canada to rest a little and now he is ready to compete again.
He is a valuable rider that will protect and support his leaders by all means."
 

Blel KADRI
(FRA)
​Date of Birth: September 3rd, 1986. 29 years old
Professional since: 2009
Giro: First participation

"Blel is a rider with a lot of experience but it will be his first Giro ever. He has been injured may times since last year. However, He has been in increasing shape these last weeks. We were glad to see his fighting spirit during early season races. Then, he is a rider who knows very well all the Grand Tours (Tour de France stage victory in 2014). His experience can definitely be useful for the team. That is why our sports direction is giving Blel his trust to pursue his progress, to help his leaders and why not to aim a stage victory."

Mattéo MONTAGUTI
(ITA)
Date of Birth: January 6 th, 1984.32 years old
Professional since: 2008
Giro: 6th participation
 
"Matteo is an all-terrain rider who can be as fast on flat stages as able to climb in middle-mountain. He has never been afraid of long breakaways. To be honest he is a substantial member of the roster and our leaders can easily rely on him. Like Axel Domont, he is also able to ride for a stage victory."

Jean-Christophe PERAUD
(FRA)
Date of Birth: May 22 th, 1977.
38 years old
Professional since: 2010
Giro: First participation

"Jean-Christophe made the promise to himself to excel during the Giro. The almost 39 years old rider is about to discover the famous race. He has worked a lot to have all the odds in his favour to achieve his goal: A GC top 5. Over the last few weeks he has been training in Italy to recognize some key stages. He showed he was in great shape in Tour of Trentino (10th overall). For the Giro, he will share his leader role with Pozzovivo, then the race will decide."

Domenico POZZOVIVO
(ITA)
Date of Birth: November 30th, 1982. 33 years old. 
Professional since: 2005
Giro: 10th participation 

"One year after his frightening crash (on stage 3), Domenico is coming back on the Giro. He is really excited to ride his country Grand Tour. He finished four times in the GC top 10 and he is planning to have the same result as two years ago, which is a fifth place overall. He will form along with Jean-Christophe an effective and experienced pair. Both of them will be able to challenge every top riders of the competition.