 | TEAM FACTFILE Country: France Manager: Marc Madiot Best Tour: 2004 - Cooke wins green jersey |
The 2004 Tour was one to forget for the Francaise des Jeux team with their two big hopes - Baden Cooke and Brad McGee - both struggling. McGee went into the race with a back injury and had to retire on the fifth stage, while green-jersey wearer Cooke struggled to live up to his billing.
In the end he could only finish 12th in the points standings as his speed legs escaped him.
But the pair will once again spearhead the team's efforts.
Their other bright spark is Sandy Casar, the then 25-year-old riding a great race to finish 16th and come second in the white jersey competition - the prize for the best younger rider in the Tour.
Both Casar and McGee look the best bets overall. McGee has a proven track record in the big tours having finished eighth in the 2004 Giro.
This time, he opted against riding in Italy to give the Tour his full attention.
The team have climbed steadily up the ranks since being granted a wildcard in the 2001 race but are a little way off the pace of the front-runners.
FDJ are still trying to find their feet as a major force since making their debut in the sport back in 1997 when they won the Paris-Roubaix and fared well in the Tour.
MMIX
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