"We know how to race for each other" - Christophe Laporte confident in France's collective strength at the Olympic Games

Thomas Voeckler continues to trust Christophe Laporte with a selection for the Olympic Games, despite a complicated start to the season. But after months of not very ideal preparation, it seems that the Frenchman is once again close to his best level at the on-going Tour de France. Under normal circumstances, the Visma | Lease a Bike rider will be one of Voeckler's best cards in Paris.

According to the European Champion, he never had the certainty of being selected to represent at the home Olympic Games. "I was never sure I would go, but I prepared as much as possible for it. Of course, I would have preferred to have a better start to the season, but my performances at the start of the season do not influence my performances after the Tour," said Laporte during the press briefing.

The hilly circuit in Paris could come to Laporte's taste. "It's a beautiful course, which is represented as a classic, these are the races that suit me best. It's really a unique opportunity to be here for the Paris Olympic Games, with a course that I like and that suits me," he continues.

"The French team is also known for its collective mentality, we know how to race for each other. I've never been a teammate with the guys in the selection, but we know how to put things into perspective and when you wear the French Team jersey, you're fully focused on that and getting the best result on the day."