AG2R La Mondiale names Tour team

Cyril Dessel (AG2R La Mondiale) put in a heroic effort to win the stage.

Cyril Dessel (AG2R La Mondiale) put in a heroic effort to win the stage. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)

France's AG2R La Mondiale named today the nine riders it will take to the Tour de France, July 4 to 26. Ireland's Nicolas Roche will help support team leaders Russian Vladimir Efimkin and Frenchman Cyril Dessel.

Roche, Efimkin, Dessel, Spaniard José Luis Arrieta, Italian Rinaldo Nocentini, Frenchmen Hubert Dupont, Stéphane Goubert, Lloyd Mondory and Christophe Riblon are the nine riders. Frenchmen Ludovic Turpin and John Gadret are reserves.

AG2R La Mondiale won two stages in the 2008 Tour de France. Dessel won stage 16 to Jausiers and Efimkin won stage nine to Bagnères-de-Bigorre, after Riccardo Riccò's disqualification for doping.

The team also announced that Dupont, 28, has renewed his contract. He joined AG2R in 2006 and his new contract will see him ride fro the team through 2011. (GB)

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1