The Agritubel team had its formal presentation on Friday in Loudun, showing off a team which has been bolstered by its new acquisitions, frenchmen Christophe Moreau, winner of the 2007 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, and sprinter Jimmy Casper, formerly of the Unibet.com team.
Moreau, the French champion, moved from AG2r to the Professional Continental team for this season, and is very motivated to help the third year team continue its growth. "Agritubel continues to grow in importance, and the philosophy of its leaders suits me," the 36-year-old told L'Equipe.
Moreau's arrival gave a new focus to the team which was previously centred around single day races and stage wins with the promising young sprinter Romain Feillu. Feillu, the silver medallist at the 2006 U23 World Championships, will benefit from the experience of Jimmy Casper, winner of a stage in the 2006 Tour de France.
Moreau will give the team a GC contender, helped by the addition of Christophe Rinero (ex-Saunier Duval) as his companion for mountain stages, and by Spaniard Moises Duenas Nevada, winner of the 2007 Regio Tour, who comes from Barloworld.
Agritubel will begin its season by the Grand Prix d'Ouverture La Marseillaise on February 3.
2008 Agritubel team: Emilien Benoit Bergès (Fra), Freddy Bichot (Fra), Maxime Bouet (Fra) (New Pro - VC La Pomme Marseille), Steven Caethoven (Bel) (Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen), Jimmy Casper (Fra) (Unibet.com), Cédric Coutouly (Fra), Romain Feillu (Fra), Mikel Gaztanaga Echeverria (Esp), Eduardo Gonzalo Ramirez (Esp), Cédric Hervé (Fra), Kevin Ista (Bel) (Pôle Continental Wallon Bergasol - Euro Millions), Nicolas Jalabert (Fra), Geoffroy Lequatre (Fra) (Cofidis), Christophe Moreau (Fra) (Ag2R Prévoyance), Anthony Ravard (Fra), Christophe Rinero (Fra) (Saunier Duval-Prodir), Benoît Salmon (Fra), Benoît Sinner (Fra), Nicolas Vogondy (Fra)
Manager: David Fornes, Sport Directors: Denis Leproux, Assistant sport directors: Emmanuel Hubert and Frederic Mainguenaud.
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