“A Top 5 in the general classification” et “at least one stage victory“. Vincent Lavenu did not beat around the bush on Monday when anticipating questions from the media to express the objectives of Décathlon-AG2R La Mondiale for the Tour de France. Are the ambitions high? Normal. His team is third strength of the World Tour this year with 26 victories She also achieved this performance on the first grand tour of the season, with Ben O’Connor’s fourth place in the general classification and the stage victories of Valentin Paret-Peintre and d. ‘Andrea Vendrame. It’s complicated to aim lower on the Grande Boucle.
In addition, the Tour is doing well for Vincent Lavenu’s men. Ten years ago, his team placed two riders in the Top 6 with Jean-Christophe Péraud (2nd) and Romain Bardet (6th). Since Bardet (2nd in 2016 then 3rd in 2017) and Ben O’Connor (4th in 2021) have confirmed the ability of the Savoyards to regularly place a rider in the Top 5 of the Grande Boucle. Almost every other year since 2014.”A good overall ranking is part of our DNA“, underlined Monday Vincent Lavenu, whose team has also gleaned 9 stage victories over the last ten years.
Gall leader, a novelty to take on
His team is used to shining on the Tour and they are going there with solid arguments this year. Felix Gall took 8th place in the general classification last year and the 26-year-old Austrian has the potential to scrape three places and achieve the objective set by his team. Sam Bennett is an experienced sprinter at 33 years old. And world renowned after having totaled 67 career victories so far. Paul Lapeira and Dorian Godon are clearly capable of raising their arms after a breakaway. And Bruno Armirail confirmed that he was a major asset in the time trial by winning the time trial of the French championships. On paper, Décathlon-AG2R La Mondiale has the means to be competitive on all fronts.
Star at home: Lapeira’s sprint for the tricolor jersey
Too many paintings? This is precisely the question that arises before the departure on Saturday in Florence. Ambitions for the general classification go through Gall, a rider who proved his potential last season when attention was focused on Ben O’Connor. This time, he is the designated leader and that changes the situation. “It’s a bit new, it’s up to us to reassure him and reassure him, to put him in a good position for that but we know that his class allows us to hope for a Top 5 with him. All the lights are green to think that its general ranking can live up to our expectations“, said Vincent Lavenu.
An ultra-coveted Top 5
Gall focused his preparation on the Tour by multiplying the courses and his form in the Tour de Suisse (10th overall) reassured his management. But there is this unknown in relation to his new status. And above all, insane competition. The Top 5 targeted would still be quite an achievement. O’Connor succeeded in the Giro (4th) but in a radically different context. The Visma I Lease a Bike was decimated, and Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates) flew through the event without having such formidable training as on the Tour. With João Almeida, Adam Yates, sparkling on the Tour de Suisse and possibly Juan Ayuso, his team has a different look on the Tour and could reasonably place two men in this Top 5.
Coronation of Armirail, sobs of Vauquelin: the breathtaking ending
La Visma also with Jonas Vingegaard, whose state of form however remains an enigma, and Matteo Jorgenson. Primoz Roglic won the Critérium du Dauphiné and will aim for the podium with the Bora-Hansgrohe. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) or Carlos Rodriguez (INEOS Grenadiers), among others, will also claim a Top 5. That’s a lot of well-rounded candidates with this in mind. For Gall, it’s a little less clear. Vincent Lavenu is counting on Nicolas Prodhomme to accompany Gall in the mountains, but the Austrian could find himself a little alone when it comes time for the big explanations. Gall also has fewer references than the behemoths in time trials and there are two on the program for the 2024 edition.
Sprints? “We don’t have a final pitcher”
The Top 5 in the general classification in these conditions, that seems like a big gamble. It won’t necessarily be much easier for the stage victories. Vincent Lavenu is aware of that. “We know that not everyone will be servedhe admitted Monday. When you take away the four or five stages that Tadej Pogacar is likely to win, the four or five victories that the sprinters are going to take and then we hope that Bennett will be one of the riders who will win stages in a sprint..” The Irishman will be able to rely on Godon, Armirail, Naesen and Peters, but that could just be to make up a complete train. “We don’t have a final pitcher, we’re working on it for next year,” said recognized Vincent Lavenu, whose team is not known for its sprint culture.
There is this impression that the objective cursor has been pushed to the limit by Décathlon-AG2R La Mondiale for the Tour. Even if she also approaches it with humility. “We look at the compositions of UAE, Visma, INEOS, Bora… We know that we are facing cycling behemothsrecognizes the general manager Dominique Serieys. But this team, beyond its individual talents, has shown remarkable collective values to assume its ambitions in the past in general, and this season in particular. “It would be stupid if this year where we are so prolific was not as good as the other years“, believes Vincent Lavenu. This is the challenge that awaits the Savoyards on this Tour: to live up to their great ambitions.
