AG2R in for two more years

The French AG2R La Mondiale team was flooded with good fortune on Tuesday. Not only did the team seize the overall lead in the Tour de Suisse thanks to Slovenian Tadej Valjavec, it also received news that its main sponsor has extended its agreement with the team for two more years.

The team will roll out a new kit adding the blue and brown logo on a white background to better fit with the insurance company's corporate colours during this year's Tour de France.

The team also announced several riders who will compete in this year's Tour. 2008 stage winners Cyril Dessel and Vladimir Efimkin will start along with Stéphane Goubert, Spaniard Jose Luis Arrieta and Lloyd Mondory.

AG2R has supported the cycling team since 1997, and will continue to fund the team's approximately 7.5 million euro budget. Team manager VIncent Lavenu was pleased that the company decided to extend its support. "I hope that the strength of this new symbol will give impetus to our riders to give their best at the Tour de France," said Lavenu.

With the renewed sponsorship, the team will seek to extend its ProTour license but will go from 30 riders to 27 according to Lavenu.