Ag2r-La Mondiale is preparing itself to start the season with a bang as it is sending most of its captains to their first race of the season, the Tour de San Luis. Domenico Pozzovivo, Carlos Betancur, Rinaldo Nocentini and Jean-Christophe Peraud will form a very strong quartet in the mountains while Davide Appollonio will target success in the sprints.

Ag2r-La Mondiale is not taking their first race of the season, the Tour de San Luis, lightly as the French team is sending most of its leaders to the opening event in Argentina. The team has selected a formidable roster which on paper appears to be one of the strongest in the race.

With three mountains stages and a time trial on offer, the race is the perfect preparation for grand tour contenders and this is reflected in the line-up for the French team. Giro d'Italia captain Domenico Pozzovivo and two of the team's two Tour de France leaders, Jean-Christope Peraud and Carlos Betancur, will work on their form under the Argentinean sun, with only Romain Bardet preferring to stay in Europe for his winter training.

The trio will be joined by Ardennes specialist Rinaldo Nocentini who is a perennial participant in the Argentinean race. He will have his friend and trusted domestique Matteo Montaguti - himself a good climber - at his side.

The team is completed by sprinter Davide Appollonio who will do his best to mix it up against the likes of Mark Cavendish, Peter Sagan and Tyler Farrar in the sprint stages but will be hampered by a lack of team support.

Last year the team also opened their season in San Luis, with Montaguti ending the race in 13th. Nocentini, Peraud and Betancur all used the race as pure training, with Nocentini being the best of the trio in 40th.

The race starts on January 20 and runs until January 26.