During the Andalusian weekend, the FDJ team gathered around their leader Arthur Vichot and even though the former French champion of had to settle for places of honor (eighth in Murcia, thirteenth in Almerica), he accumulated important racing kilometres.

"The Vuelta a Murcia is not an easy race," says sports director Franck Pineau. "There is a climb that requires a 45-minute effort on the small chainring (15km climb) . The team worked really well and at the top of this difficulty, there were four FDJ riders in a group of 50 riders. Kenny Elissonde and Alexandre Géniez accompanied him very far and Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier is again healthy. Arthur is physically as well as last year at this time, but his attitude as a leader is better. He is calm and serene. He is mature."

The victory went to Rein Taaramae (Astana) after a break of 50 kilometers. On the finish line after a 1.5km climb, the Estonian was 10 seconds ahead of a group of 18 riders but the sprint was disrupted by a parked car 20 metres from the line.

"Sunday, the Clasica Almeria looked like won for a sprinter like Cavendish and he came out on top," Pineau says. "We had planned to play the card of Marc Sarreau but he arrived in Spain with a little fatigue and had not recovered. He needs a breather. The team members were a little behind but that was in accordance with my morning briefing. I told them that the goal is not to finish the Ruta del Sol exhausted, but only with a good fatigue. After the big day Saturday, the job was done. And Jérémy Roy has fully complied with the orders of supporting Marc Sarreau who couldn't make it but the season is long and the goal is Paris-Nice."

Nevertheless, Arthur Vichot finished the race in the first groups. On Wednesday, the team will start the Ruta del Sol with two half stages: a 121.8 kilometres road stage in the morning and a time trial in the afternoon (8.2 km).