Felix Gall
«A stage victory will be my main motivation during these three weeks.»
«The first stages of the Tour are always tricky and very tense. With a strong team around me, the first goal will be to get through the first week without any problems. Starting a Grand Tour with a goal in the general classification is never easy: we'll take the race day by day, see where we stand before the mountains and adjust our goals accordingly. The general classification won't be my primary goal; a stage victory will be my main motivation during these three weeks. If that victory comes from a breakaway, it could allow me to gain valuable places in the general classification. We reconnoitred the Col de la Loze stage during training camp, and it brought back some very good memories. It's clearly a stage that will have a special flavour for me. I feel really good, I had an excellent training camp in Arc 1950. It was nice to gain confidence in the Tour de Suisse and finish on a high note, I feel ready. We will have a very strong team for the mountains and the breakaways. We showed, particularly in the Tour de Suisse and the Critérium du Dauphiné, that we are a really strong team.»
Sébastien Joly
«Adopt an offensive strategy»
«The Grand Départ in Lille is an important event for the team. With three of our partners originating from this region – Decathlon, La Mondiale and Van Rysel – we will be eagerly awaited. The aim is to adopt an offensive strategy in order to secure a stage victory. To do this, we will be able to count on our puncheurs in the first week, then on the best climbers in the team as we approach the Pyrenees and the Alps. Unlike last year, when we raced defensively, we want Felix Gall to achieve a good position in the general classification through his breakaway attempts. Felix is one of the best climbers in the peloton, he is confident and will be keen to repeat his 2023 performance (a stage victory in Courchevel on the queen stage).»
The information
Discovering the Grande Boucle
Two riders from the squad will be discovering the Tour de France for the first time in its 112th edition. Bastien Tronchon will be at the start in Lille, keen to show off his punching power and speed, particularly during the first week. Australian Callum Scotson will be tasked with supporting Felix Gall in the mountains.
