Team Europcar finalises 2012 squad

Team Europcar has finalised its 25-rider roster for the 2012 season as it aims to build on the incredible success achieved in 2011. The French team will again ride Colnago C59 Italia bikes in 2012.

Team manager Jean-Rene Bernaudeau has retained the core of the team that won 22 races in 2011, including team leader Thomas Voeckler, who wore the yellow jersey at the Tour de France for ten days, best young rider and stage winner at the Tour de France Pierre Rolland and French national time trial champion Christophe Kern.

Japan’s Yukiya Arashiro, French sprinter Sebastien Chavanel and the hugely talented Cyril Gautier will also be part of the more international team roster. New signings for 2012 include Tunisia’s Rafâa Chtioui, young Italian sprinter Matteo Pelucchi, Germany’s Björn Thurau, Italy’s Davide Malacarne and France’s Angelo Tulik.

“Our main objectives for the year will be Paris-Nice, the Dauphiné and the Tour de France but we also want to make more of an impact in the Spring classics,” Bernaudeau explained.

The team will hold its first training camp of the winter on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, the home of rider Yohann Gene.