Just like competitor AG2R-La Mondiale, Bouygues Telecom sought for talents in Eastern-Europe. And for good reason, because they know how to train their talents over there. Huge guys, who will just keep going, uphill or against the clock. Sokolov and Trofimov are two of these types, with a lot of potential.


But it must be said that Bouygues is very self-sufficient. The amateur team of Vendée-U proves to be a very good training-school. Only Rabobank can measure up with their success of bringing on new talents. This winter manager Berneaudeau again didn’t look much further than his own surroundings for new talents. Only Trofimov hasn’t worn a Vendée-U jersey in the past year, but nonetheless he is very well known with the French culture from his espoir-period.


Although the team has now definitely stepped away from their principle to be completely French, every rider should fit in the French (cycling) culture through education or otherwise by staying locally at the team. Stef Clement, who had a very successful season in the past year, will be able to confirm that.


The only problem for Berneaudeau will be the loss of experience in the team. Past winter Brochard, Flickinger and Rous all retired. Yohann le Boulanger (FD Jeux) and Pierre Drancourt (Groupe Gobert.com) also left the team. Although with the arrival of Sokolov and Trofimov a start was made with some talented foreigners, the team remains mostly French, with the occasional foreigner. Clement, Florencio and Clerc are useful additions to a mostly pale French squad. Tschopp and Pütsep are of mediocre quality, so they don’t really stand out compared to for instance Berneaudeau, Belgy or Rénier.


Of course Pineau, Fedrigo, Voeckler and Geslin are fine riders, but as main riders of a team, they don’t show more than the occasional success in the international peloton. These riders will try to attack, which immediately shows their weakness. It’s amusing to start the race, but when the real prizes are divided, they will mostly fall short.


In
Damien Gaudin, Perrig Quemeneur, Evgeny Sokolov, Sébastien Turgot (neo), Yuri Trofimov (Moscow Stars)


Out
Laurent Brochard, Andy Flickinger, Didier Rous (retired), Pierre Drancourt (Groupe Gobert.com), Yohann le Boulanger (Française des Jeux)