The Luxembourger Kevin Geniets (25 years old) and the Australian climber Michael Storer (25 years old), neophytes of the Tour, are part of the group which includes the Canadian Antoine Duchesne (30 years old, 2nd participation).
On the other hand, Bruno Armirail, precious lieutenant of Gaudu last year, was not retained in this formation which will also count on the Swiss Stefan Küng (28 years old, 6th participation), third in Paris-Roubaix in April and fifth in the Tour of Switzerland last Sunday.
"We have built our team since this winter by projecting ourselves on the course that we will encounter for three weeks. Before thinking about the mountains, where we have assets, we must first get through the first week", declared Marc Madiot, the boss of the team, who insisted on "the sense of the collective and the sacrifice, our course of action".
Olivier Le Gac (28), who has not run the Tour since 2018, is also a starter.
The Groupama-FDJ team at the Tour de France (July 1 to 24):
David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) at the finish of the 7th stage of Dauphiné on June 11, 2022 in Vaujany Marco BERTORELLO AFP / Archives
Antoine Duchesne (CAN), David Gaudu (FRA), Kevin Geniets (LUX), Stefan Küng (SUI), Olivier Le Gac (FRA), Valentin Madouas (FRA), Thibaut Pinot (FRA), Michael Storer (AUS)
© 2022 AFP