Ag2r La Mondiale will race next week Paris-Nice, the first big goal of this season. There will be a strong team with Jean-Christophe Péraud and Romain Bardet. Julien Jurdie, the sport director of the French team, hopes that his team will shine on the French road. The Stéphanois who will lead the team at Paris - Nice says its ambitions before the race to the sun.

"Since the beginning of the season, either on the Ruta del Sol, the Tour du Haut Var and more recently in the Drôme, we saw that the team was winning. Collectively, things are squares and in February, the riders regained their automations. We arrive on the run with three wins since the start of the season but without falling into complacency. After our victory last year, we will begin the test seriously but there is no extra pressure. It does not change the team's strategy."

Julien Jurdie told about the selection: "Expect the two leaders, Romain Bardet and Jean-Christophe Péraud, we can count on experienced riders like Sébastien Minard or the road captain like Sam Dumoulin who is in great shape. Ben Gastauer demonstrated again recently with wins on the Tour du Haut Var. He will be a valuable asset, as Mikael Cherel in the mountains. Jan Bakelants and Johan Vansummeren will also bring us their experience of major races."

"After the Santos Tour Down Under, the World Tour season really kicks in Paris - Nice. After the Tour de France, it is for me the most nervous and technical race. There is the stress of early season, everyone is block. From Monday to Wednesday, we know that we will have stressful days. Minard and Vansummeren have a great role in the early stages. The first turn of the race will be at the finish of the fourth stage at the Col de la Croix de Chaubouret on 12 March. This is a climb that can suit Romain Bardet. Saturday's stage is always difficult, but from experience, the overall ranking will not switch on this day."

Ag2r La Mondiale roster: Samuel Dumouline, Romain Bardet, Jan Bakelants, Mikael Chérel, Ben Gastauer, Jean-Christophe Péraud, Johan Vansummeren and Sébastien Minard.