22/06/2022

Groupama - FDJ reveal climber-heavy lineup for Tour de France

Groupama - FDJ is the third team to confirm their lineup for the Tour France, as with no surprises they reveal David Gaudu as the team leader, with the likes of Thibaut Pinot and Stefan Küng carrying high ambitions aswell.

Gaudu has not ridden at his best over the last few weeks in the high mountains, but comes to the Tour after a stage win at the Critérium du Dauphiné and is arriving healthy in Copenhagen after a season built around the Grand Boucle. The Frenchman is likely to be the only general classification contender within the team, but not the only climber.

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Thibaut Pinot is also headlining the team, after getting his spark back this season with wins at the Tour of the Alps and Tour de Suisse, with a high level in the mountains. He's eyeing stage wins, although GC has not been discarded according to Gaudu. Michael Storer, winner of two stages and the KOM jersey last year at the Vuelta a España joins the French duo likely as a domestique, but with stage wins also as a possibility in the high mountains.

Stefan Küng has just emerged fifth from a hard Tour de Suisse and is having his best season to date by far, and will be the main helper for Gaudu likely in the windy stages and also in the cobbles. He will be eyeing the time-trials, aswell as possibly going for breakaway to try and win a stage, however his multi-pronged talent can be incredibly useful for the French team.

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Valentin Madouas, third at the Tour des Flandres joins the riders above in a mixed role of stage hunting and domestique duty if necessary. He will not only eye the mountainous stages, but has proven to be a clear contender for some hilly and classics-like stages. With no sprinter on the team, the remaining two spots were given to two rouleurs and road captains, tasks that will be fullfiled by Olivier Le Gac and Canadian Antoine Duchesne.

Groupama - FDJ for Tour de France: David Gaudu, Thibaut Pinot, Antoine Duchesne, Kevin Geniets, Stefan Küng, Olivier Le Gac, Valentin Madouas and Michael Storer.