Chérel joins FDJ two months earlier

By Jean-François Quénet in Genova

The injuries of Carlos Da Cruz, Ian McLeod and Tim Gudsell at the Giro d'Italia have left Française des Jeux with a long list of riders unable to be lined in the coming races. At the Tour de Picardie, Christophe Mengin also broke two ribs. "We've had 11 riders sent to hospital for serious injuries since the beginning of the year," Directeur Sportif Marc Madiot underlined.

Therefore, former junior French champion Mikaël Chérel will turn pro with FDJ on June 1st instead of August 1st, as planned initially. The 21 year-old from Normandy was supposed to start his career at the Polynormande nearby his house on August 5 but he'll ride the GP Plumelec and Circuit de l'Aulne in Brittany on June 2 and 3. Therefore, he'll skip the U23 Paris-Roubaix and the amateur French championship.

Under the colours of Team U Nantes-Atlantique, Chérel has bagged one win this year, the GP Super U Côtes d'Armor in April.