No Moreau in French Worlds selection

Christophe Moreau skips World Championships (Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)

By Hedwig Kröner

French team director Frédéric Moncassin has announced his pick of riders going to the Stuttgart World Championships next week. Surprisingly, French Champion Christophe Moreau has not been included in the team, which gives the impression that Moncassin preferred current racing form to merit for his selection this year. The team captain of Ag2r Prévoyance, who will be joining Continental Team Agritubel next year, has lost his pre-Tour de France drive lately and will therefore stay at home.

Instead, a very competitive and young squad was presented by the national federation on Tuesday, notably listing Stéphane Augé (Cofidis), Sandy Casar (Française Des Jeux), Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis), Pierrick Fédrigo (Bouygues Telecom), Ludovic Turpin (Ag2r Prévoyance) and Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom). Young talents like Romain Feillu (Agritubel), Amaël Moinard (Cofidis) and Benoît Vaugrenard (Française Des Jeux) have also been included.

While there won't be a designated captain for the road race on Sunday, September 30, the hilly course is suited to finishers like Sylvain Chavanel and Thomas Voeckler, who recently won the GP Plouay. Last year in Salzburg, 23 year-old Romain Feillu won the silver medal in the U23 road race, and while he is still young, Moncassin did not hesitate to include him in the team after his recent victory at the Tour of Britain.

The full French line-up lists as follows:
ITT U23 Men: Jérôme Coppel (CR4C Roanne), Tony Gallopin (SCO Dijon)
ITT Women: Maryline Salvetat (VSLL Castres), Jeannie Longo (Uniqa)
ITT Elite Men: Dimitri Champion (Bouygues Telecom), Benoît Vaugrenard (Française Des Jeux)
RR Women: Marina Jaunatre (Vienne-Futuroscope), Jeannie Longo (Uniqa), Magali Mocquery (Team Pro du Genevois), Edwige Pitel (Uniqa), Maryline Salvetat (VSLL Castres), Elodie Touffet (Menikini)
RR U23 Men: Jérôme Coppel (CR4C Roanne), Blel Kadri (Albi VS), Mickaël Larpe (Roubaix Lille Métropole), Guillaume Levarlet (Auber 93), Julien Simon (SuperSport 35-ACNC), Florian Vachon (EC Montmarault-Montluçon)
RR Elite Men: Stéphane Augé (Cofidis), Sandy Casar (Française Des Jeux), Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis), Pierrick Fédrigo (Bouygues Telecom), Romain Feillu (Agritubel), Amaël Moinard (Cofidis), Ludovic Turpin (Ag2r Prévoyance), Benoît Vaugrenard (Française Des Jeux), Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom)