French teams confirmed for Down Under
- By VeloNews.com
- Published Dec. 9, 2008
- Updated Dec. 10, 2008 at 7:20 AM UTC
The French team which won this year’s overall team classification at the Tour Down Under in Australia, Francaise des Jeux, will be returning in 2009 to defend its crown, organizers said Wednesday.
“We will expect a competitive team performance in 2009 by Francaise des Jeux,” race director Mike Turtur said.
The team includes Jeremy Roy, who finished second overall in the 2008 Giro d’Italia Sprint Classification, and who Turtur said would be striving to secure sprint jersey points at the Tour Down Under.
The Francaise des Jeux rider roster also includes Mikael Cherel, Remy Di Gregorio, Timothy Gudsell, Yauheni Hutarovich, Yoann Offredo and Wesley Sulzburger.
Fellow French team Cofidis also announced their Tour Down Under rider roster, which includes David Moncoutie, a veteran of nine consecutive Tour de France events from 2000 to 2008.
“Cofidis had a strong performance at the 2008 event, with Mickael Buffaz finishing fifth overall,” Turtur said.
The Cofidis roster also includes David Moncoutie, Florent Brard, Julien El Fares and Rein Taaramae.
Organizers have already announced that the powerful French Ag2r La Mondiale team will be back for next year’s Tour Down Under, which will be held in South Australia from January 18 to 25.
FILED UNDER: Road TAGS: Tour Down Under