"Yes, it was a headache" - Thomas Voeckler admits he had to break hearts leaving out French riders from Olympic Games

There is less than one month until the riders tackle the Olympic Games, both time-trial and road race events. France is the home nation and has quality riders to present in Paris, but with only four spots available, national coach Thomas Voeckler was forced to make hard decision and disappoint a few riders.

"This is the most complicated selection that I have had to make as coach of the French team. Four riders is not a lot. I would have liked to have included more, because there are some who are on the sidelines and who deserved to be there," Voeckler said in an interview with Cyclism'Actu. "But I had to make choices, leaving emotions aside. Choices that I have thought about for months. I may be right or wrong, but it was a long reflection that allowed me to arrive at this quartet. And yes, it was a headache,"

Ultimately he reached the decision to choose Julian Alaphilippe, Christophe Laporte, Kévin Vauquelin and Valentin Madouas. The 270-kilometer route is hilly and features a circuit that allows for a lot of riders to fight for a result. But the Olympic Games are a very special event, unlike any other race, where teams are forced to choose a maximum of 4 riders (for the main nations, whilst most have less). Hence there were a lot of disappointments upon the reveal of the group.

"I'm thinking of Benoît Cosnefroy, Romain Grégoire, Bruno Armirail, Axel Laurance, Bryan Coquard, and many others," Voeckler admits. However difficult choices were necessary and the group of riders chosen is based on tactics that are already being worked on for the road race. But former popular pro Voeckler hangs tight to the secrets running in the back of French cycling:

"I can't reveal the criteria that allowed me to choose these four. Otherwise, it gives some indications on what I want to put in place."