Sylvain Chavanel at the Vuelta a España (Image credit: Sirotti)
Hoping to improve on what has already been his most successful season to date, Sylvain Chavanel will head to the world championships in Varese, Italy as the captain of a strong French team. He will also ride the time trial according to Belgian news site sporza.
Chavanel broke through as a strong classics contender this year after long being touted as the next French winner of the Tour de France. He took wins at Dwars door Vlaanderen and the Brabantse Pijl – his first attempt at both races – before capping off his spring campaign with a stage win at the Tour de France.
Chavanel's Cofidis team-mates Stéphane Augé and Amaël Moinard will join him at the worlds as faithful lieutenants.
Top French cyclo-cross rider John Gadret (Ag2r-La Mondiale) – who is currently riding the Vuelta a España – will make his road world's debut for France, while Geoffroy Lequatre (Agritubel) may well play a wild card role. Lequatre was recently crowned the winner of the Tour of Britain, taking the race after a stage long break away.
Current French road race champion Nicolas Vogondy, was also named for the team, and will no doubt prove to be a valuable resource for Chavanel, one capable of being a strong contender in his own right.
French team for the World Championships: Stéphane Augé, Sandy Casar, Sylvain Chavanel, John Gadret, Christophe Le Mevel, Geoffroy Lequatre, Amaël Moinard, Jérôme Pineau, Nicolas Vogondy.
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