French team Ag2r La Mondiale will be returning to Adelaide in January to compete in the 2011 Santos Tour Down Under.

“We are delighted that a high calibre team like Ag2r La Mondiale is making its way back to Adelaide for the Santos Tour Down Under,” says Race Director, Mike Turtur.

“Ag2r is the only team to have competed in all thirteen editions of the Santos Tour Down Under and they’ve got an impressive record, having produced the most overall winners of the race.”

Ag2r La Mondiale came out on top at the race in 2000 with Gilles Maignan of France taking the overall honours, followed by Spaniard Mikel Astarloza in 2003, Aussie Simon Gerrans in 2006 and Switzerland’s Martin Elmiger in 2007.

At the 2010 Santos Tour Down Under, Ag2r La Mondiale won the SA Brilliant Blend Team Classification, making them the overall winning team at the race.

“For the 2011 race, Ag2r is fielding a strong line-up of seasoned riders such as
Blel Kadri and Mikael Cherel who both competed here last year with different teams,” says Mike Turtur.
“The 2011 roster will also feature a new recruit Steve Houanard from the Skil-Shimano team, and Dimitri Champion, the 2009 French National Road Race Champion.”

Team Manager, Laurent Biondi (FRA) who had led the team at the Santos Tour Down Under a number of times, will again be leading the team comprising the following riders:

Julien Loubet (FRA) Mikael Cherel (FRA)
Kristof Goddaert (BEL) Blel Kadri (FRA)
Dimitri Champion (FRA) Yuriy Krivtsov (FRA)
Steve Houanard (FRA)