Ben O'Connor leads AG2R Citroën Team at Tour de France

AG2R Citroën Team have announced the riders that will be representing the French team this coming month at the Tour de France, a team led by Ben O'Connor who will try to improve on last year's fourth place.

The Australian finished the recent Critérium du Dauphiné in third place and he is a solid and reliable figure in the French team. Having done a breakthrough performance last year, he's solidified his evolution this year having additionally won the Tour du Jura, finished fifth at the Tour de Romandie and sixth at the Volta a Catalunya.

He will have support in the mountains from experienced climber Mikaël Cherel. Geoffrey Bouchard and Aurélien Paret-Peintre will likely be good domestiques too although they're expected to have freedom to join breakaways, whilst Bob Jungels can also figure as a minor GC contender if he shows the same form he had at the Tour de Suisse where he finished in sixth place.

Benoît Cosnefroy is a rider who should have his freedom, specially in the first week's punchy finales. The Frenchman is one of the peloton's best puncheurs, although he's had a tough time in Switzerland and may struggle to be at his best in the coming week. Two Belgian classics riders round-out the squad, who will be protecting the Australian in the flat and cobbled stages more specifically - aswell as possible eyeing breakaways in the last two weeks, who will be Oliver Naesen and Stan Dewulf.

AG2R Citroën Team for Tour de France: Ben O'Connor, Geoffrey Bouchard, Mikaël Cherel, Benoît Cosnefroy, Stan Dewulf, Bob Jungels, Oliver Naesen, Aurélien Paret-Peintre.