2011 Ag2r–La Mondiale season

Cycling team season 2011 Ag2r–La Mondiale season Manager Vincent Lavenu One-day victories 1 Stage race overall victories 1 Stage race stage victories 4 Previous season • Next season The 2011 season for the ALM 2011 cycling team began in January at the Tour de San Luis and ended in October at the Chrono des Nations. As a UCI ProTeam, they were automatically invited and obligated to send a squad to every event in the UCI World Tour. Ag2r had a meager 2011 season, managing only six victories. The pinnacle of the team's season was certainly the Giro d'Italia. John Gadret, one of the team's leaders, won the undulating 11th stage to Castelfidardo. Though he was outclassed by the race's truly elite riders, particularly so by Giro champion Alberto Contador, he finished the race in fourth place overall, easily the best final placing in a Grand Tour in the team's history. Hubert Dupont also rode very strongly in this race, to 12th place overall and some high stage placings as well. While the team got several top tens in single-day races from Anthony Ravard, the only such race they (and he) actually won was the lightly heralded Châteauroux Classic. They finished second-to-last in the UCI World Tour rankings, better only than VCD 2011. 2011 roster Ages as of January 1, 2011.http://cyclingarchives.com/ploegfiche.php?id=16320 https://archive.today/20120710003858/http://cyclingarchives.com/ploegfiche.php?id=16320 usurped July 10, 2012 AG2R – La Mondiale 2011 Cycling Archives 2011-10-27 Julien Bérard FRA 2011 1 1 1987 7 2 Guillaume Bonnafond FRA 2011 1 1 1987 6 23 Maxime Bouet FRA 2011 1 1 1986 11 3 Dimitri Champion FRA 2011 1 1 1983 9 6 Mikaël Cherel FRA 2011 1 1 1986 3 17 Cyril Dessel FRA 2011 1 1 1974 11 29 Axel DomontRider joined the team on August 1 as a stagiaire. FRA 2011 1 1 1990 08 07 Hubert Dupont FRA 2011 1 1 1980 11 13 Martin Elmiger SUI 2011 1 1 1978 9 23 John Gadret FRA 2011 1 1 1979 4 22 Ben Gastauer LUX 2011 1 1 1987 11 14 Kristof Goddaert BEL 2011 1 1 1987 11 14 Sébastien Hinault FRA 2011 1 1 1974 2 11 Steve Houanard FRA 2011 1 1 1986 4 2 Blel Kadri FRA 2011 1 1 1986 9 3 Yuriy Krivtsov FRA 2011 1 1 1979 2 7 David Lelay FRA 2011 1 1 1979 11 30 Romain Lemarchand FRA 2011 1 1 1987 7 26 Julien Loubet FRA 2011 1 1 1985 1 15 Yannick Martinez FRA 2011 1 1 1988 5 4 Sébastien Minard FRA 2011 1 1 1982 6 12 Lloyd Mondory FRA 2011 1 1 1982 4 26 Matteo Montaguti ITA 2011 1 1 1984 1 6 Rinaldo Nocentini ITA 2011 1 1 1977 9 25 Jean-Christophe Péraud FRA 2011 1 1 1977 5 22 Mathieu Perget FRA 2011 1 1 1984 9 18 Anthony Ravard FRA 2011 1 1 1983 9 28 Christophe Riblon FRA 2011 1 1 1981 1 17 Nicolas Roche IRE 2011 1 1 1984 7 3 Mathieu Teychenne-Coutet FRA 2011 1 1 1989 3 18 Riders who joined the team for the 2011 season Rider2010 teamMikaël CherelFDJ 2010bhttp://www.velonation.com/News/ID/5425/Transfer-News-Mikael-Cherel-moves-from-FDJ-to-AG2R-La-Mondiale.aspx Transfer News: Mikael Cherel moves from FDJ to AG2R-La Mondiale Ben Atkins VeloNation VeloNation LLC 2010-08-27 2011-10-07Steve HouanardSKS 2010http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/skil-shimano-frees-houanard-reels-in-sprick Skil-Shimano frees Houanard, reels in Sprick Greg Johnson Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2010-10-13 2011-10-07Romain LemarchandAUB 2010http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ag2r-skil-shimano-name-new-signings AG2R, Skil-Shimano name new signings Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2010-08-03 2011-10-07Sébastien MinardCOF 2010http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ag2r-la-mondiale-completes-2011-roster AG2R-La Mondiale completes 2011 roster Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2010-11-18 2011-10-07Matteo MontagutiDER 2010http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/liquigas-doimo-and-ag2r-announce-2011-signings Liquigas-Doimo and AG2R announce 2011 signings Barry Ryan Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2010-09-01 2011-10-07Jean-Christophe PéraudOLO 2010http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/peraud-signs-for-ag2r Péraud signs for AG2R Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2010-09-24 2011-10-07Mathieu PergetGCE 2010 Riders who left the team during or after the 2010 season Rider2011 teamJosé Luis ArrietaRetiredhttp://www.cyclingnews.com/news/arrieta-career-ends-on-same-mountain-as-indurain Arrieta career ends on same mountain as Indurain Peter Cossins Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2010-09-15 2011-10-07Alexander EfimkinTT1 2011ahttp://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6793/Team-Type-1-previews-new-jerseys-finalising-lineup-for-2011.aspx Team Type 1 previews new jerseys, finalising lineup for 2011 Shane Stokes VeloNation VeloNation LLC 2010-12-19 2011-10-07Vladimir EfimkinTT1 2011ahttp://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vladimir-efimkin-comes-back-with-team-type-1 Vladimir Efimkin comes back with Team Type 1 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2010-07-01 2011-10-26Rene MandriEDR 2011http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/5420/Endura-Racing-builds-momentum-for-2011-signs-Mandri-and-de-Jonge.aspx Endura Racing builds momentum for 2011, signs Mandri and de Jonge VeloNation VeloNation LLC 2010-08-27 2011-10-07Nicolas RousseauAUB 2011http://www.cyclismactu.net/news-transfert-rousseau-rejoint-javalet-chez-big-mat-9083.html Rousseau rejoint Javalet chez Big Mat French Rousseau rejoins Javalet at Big Mat Henry Cornet Cyclism'Actu 2010-09-16 2011-10-07Gatis SmukulisTHR 2011http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/smukulis-signs-with-htc-highroad Smukulis signs with HTC-Highroad Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2010-11-18 2011-10-07Ludovic TurpinSAU 2011http://www.cyclismactu.net/news-transfert_ludovic_turpin_atterrit_a_saur_sojasun-9945.html Ludovic Turpin atterrit à Saur Sojasun French Ludovic Turpin lands at Saur Sojasun Henri Cornet Cyclism'Actu 2010-10-19 2011-10-07Tadej ValjavecRAR 2011http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6213/Valjavec-unable-to-land-big-contract-will-compete-for-Slovenian-Continental-team-in-2011.aspx Valjavec unable to land big contract, will compete for Slovenian Continental team in 2011 Shane Stokes Velonation 2010-10-31 2011-10-07 One-day races Spring classics The team had very little success in the single-day races in 2011. Near the beginning of the season, Nocentini rode to a podium finish and a seventh place, respectively, at the Gran Premio dell'Insubria-Lugano and the similarly named Gran Premio di Lugano the next day.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gran-premio-regio-insubrica-1-1/results Visconti powers to GP Insubrica victory 2011-02-26 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-26http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/65th-gp-di-lugano-1-1/results Basso prevails in GP di Lugano 2011-02-27 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-26 Ravard also took a seventh place that day, at Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne.Cycling News http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/kuurne-brussel-kuurne-1-1/results Sutton wins Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne 2011-02-27 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-26 In March, Mondory rode to sixth place at Le Samyn.Cycling News http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/43rd-le-samyn-1-1/results Klemme takes first win for Leopard Trek 2011-03-02 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-26 Later in March, Hinault took eighth at the E3 Prijs Vlaanderen – Harelbeke, a race dominated by LEO 2011's Fabian Cancellara.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/e3-prijs-vlaanderen-harelbeke-1-hc/results Cancellara cruises to victory in late solo breakaway 2011-03-26 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-26 The next day, Mondory took the team's best result in a single-day race which counted towards the UCI World Tour rankings by finishing fifth at Gent–Wevelgem.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gent-wevelgem-upt/results Boonen sprints to victory 2011-03-27 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-26 In April, Nocentini rode to tenth place at the GP Miguel Induráin,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/13th-gran-premio-miguel-indurain-1-hc/results Sanchez outpowers Kolobnev for GP Indurain win 2011-04-02 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-26 and Roche did likewise at Paris–Camembert,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-camembert-1-1/results Casar gets the big cheese in Paris-Camembert 2011-04-12 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-26 as did Goddaert in Tro-Bro Léon.Jean-François Quénet http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tro-bro-leon-1-1-2/results Jerome prevails in Tro-Bro Léon 2011-04-17 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-26 The team was greatly outclassed at the monument classics of the spring season, with their best placings being 41st at Milan–San Remo,Barry Ryan http://www.cyclingnews.com/milan-san-remo/results Goss wins Milan-San Remo 2011-03-19 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-26 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130320160139/http://www.cyclingnews.com/milan-san-remo/results 2013-03-20 17th at the Tour of FlandersBrecht Decaluwé http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-flanders-upt/results Nuyens makes his big break through 2011-04-03 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-26 and Paris–Roubaix,Brecht Decaluwé http://www.cyclingnews.com/paris-roubaix/results Van Summeren solos to gutsy victory at Paris-Roubaix 2011-04-10 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-26 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130410122654/http://www.cyclingnews.com/paris-roubaix/results 2013-04-10 and 39th at Liège–Bastogne–Liège.Brecht Decaluwé http://www.cyclingnews.com/liege-bastogne-liege/results Gilbert the great! 2011-04-24 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-26 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120110164412/http://www.cyclingnews.com/liege-bastogne-liege/results 2012-01-10 The team also sent squads to the Grand Prix d'Ouverture La Marseillaise, the Gran Premio della Costa Etruschi, the Trofeo Laigueglia, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Les Boucles du Sud Ardèche, Cholet-Pays de Loire, Dwars door Vlaanderen, the Route Adélie de Vitré, the inaugural Flèche d'Emeraude, the Scheldeprijs, the Grand Prix de Denain the Tour du Finistère, the Amstel Gold Race, La Flèche Wallonne, the Eschborn–Frankfurt city loop, the Grand Prix of Aargau Canton, the Grand Prix de Plumelec-Morbihan, and Boucles de l'Aulne, but placed no higher than 12th in any of these races. Fall races Shortly after the Tour de France, Ag2r had one of their better single-day finishes of the season with Chérel taking fifth place at Polynormande.Jean-François Quénet http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/la-poly-normande-2011/results Delaplace comes home as a hero 2011-07-31 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-26 Ravard had a string of top-ten placings in the later season, coming third at Paris–Brussels,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/parijs-brusssel-paris-bruxelles-1-hc-2/results Galimzyanov prevails in Paris–Bruxelles 2011-09-10 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-26 eighth at the Grand Prix d'Isbergues,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-disbergues-pas-de-calais-1-1-2/results Jorgensen edges O'Grady to win Isbergues 2011-09-18 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-26 and seventh at Paris–Bourges.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-bourges-1-1-1/results Hayman tops sprint for Paris-Bourges win 2011-10-06 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-26 Ravard was also the rider responsible for the team's lone single-day victory of the season at the Châteauroux Classic, where he raced as the defending champion and took his third career win in the event. Ravard won a large field sprint, a victory which he felt validated his career. He had been considering retirement due to a medical abnormality, as a muscle in his left leg is twice the size of the same muscle in his right.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/chateauroux-classic-de-lindre-trophee-fenioux-1-1-2/results Ravard wins in Châteauroux 2011-08-21 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-26 The team also had good showings from Nocentini at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal (ninth place),Kirsten Frattini http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-cycliste-de-montreal-upt-1/results Costa claims GP Montreal 2011-09-11 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-26 Mondory at the Grand Prix de la Somme (second place),http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-de-la-somme-1-1/results Roux jumps to win in Roisel 2011-09-16 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-26 Montaguti at the Gran Premio Industria e Commercio di Prato (third place),http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gp-industria-and-commercio-di-prato-2011/results Sagan outsprints Paolini in Prato 2011-09-18 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-26 Bouet at the Tour de Vendée (third place),http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-vendee-1-hc-1/results Marcato wins from the break 2011-10-02 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-26 and Roche at the Giro del Piemonte (fifth place).http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-del-piemonte-1-hc-1/results Moreno wins Gran Piemonte 2011-10-13 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-26 Roche also took the team's best placing at the fall monument, the Giro di Lombardia, but was a relatively distant 16th on the day.Daniel Friebe http://www.cyclingnews.com/giro-di-lombardia/results Zaugg solos to win in Lombardia 2011-10-15 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-26 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120523014636/http://www.cyclingnews.com/giro-di-lombardia/results 2012-05-23 The team also sent squads to the Clásica de San Sebastián, Vattenfall Cyclassics, the GP Ouest–France, the Grote Prijs Jef Scherens, the Memorial Rik Van Steenbergen, the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec, the Grand Prix de Fourmies, the Grand Prix de Wallonie, Binche–Tournai–Binche, Giro dell'Emilia, the GP Bruno Beghelli, Paris–Tours, and the Chrono des Nations, but finished no higher than 14th in any of these races. Stage races The team was very successful at the Étoile de Bessèges in February. In stage 2, Mondory and Ravard finished in the first two positions after a full field sprint. Mondory took the stage win, and Ravard assumed the overall race leadership. Since he had also finished second in the first stage, Ravard also took the lead in the points classification.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/41st-etoile-de-besseges-2-1/stage-2/results Mondory heads AG2R La Mondiale one-two finish 2011-02-03 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-02-07 With two further top-ten placings later on, Ravard ended the race by winning both the overall and points titles, though he briefly lost both for a stage. The squad finished on the same time as VCD 2011 for the teams classification, but the Dutch team won the award.Stephen Farrand http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/41st-etoile-de-besseges-2-1/stage-5/results Haddou tops final stage 2011-02-06 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-02-07 Thanks to a second-place finish on the final and most difficult stage of the Tour Méditerranéen, Péraud finished in that same position overall.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-mediterraneen-cycliste-professionnel-2-1-1/stage-5/results Moncoutie wins on Mont Faron 2011-02-13 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-02-14 It was not until much later in the season that the team took their other victories. In August, Ravard won a stage at the Tour du Poitou-Charentes, outkicking FDJ 2011's top sprinter Yauheni Hutarovich at the front of a field sprint so fast that the first ten riders to finish opened up a three-second time gap on the rest of the field.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-du-poitou-charentes-2-1/stage-3/results Ravard out-sprints Hutarovich on stage 3 2011-08-25 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-26 In October, at the new Tour of Beijing, Roche took the team's final win of the season. He, along with Philip Deignan and Chris Froome had broken away on the final climb of stage 3, 15 km on from the finish line, and managed to stay away from the fast-charging peloton by a single second. Roche won the three-up sprint.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-beijing-wt/stage-3/results Roche beats Deignan in Yong Ning Town 2011-10-07 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-26 The team had a small measure of success winning lesser classifications at stage races, doing so at the Étoile de Bessèges, the Giro del Trentino,Peter Hymas http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-del-trentino-2-hc/stage-4/results Scarponi wins Giro del Trentino 2011-04-22 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-26 the Tour de Suisse,Barry Ryan http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/75th-tour-de-suisse-upt/stage-9/results Leipheimer erases deficit to Cunego, wins overall 2011-06-19 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-26 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20111017025026/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/75th-tour-de-suisse-upt/stage-9/results 2011-10-17 the Route du Sud,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/35th-route-du-sud-la-depeche-du-midi-2-1/stage-4/results Maté celebrates in Pau 2011-06-19 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-26 Paris–Corrèze,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-correze-2-1/stage-2/results De Waele tops final stage 2011-08-04 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-26 and the Tour du Poitou-Charentes.Laura Weislo http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-du-poitou-charentes-2-1/stage-5/results Dowsett takes solo victory on final stage 2011-08-26 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-26 The team also sent squads to the Tour de San Luis, the Tour Down Under, the Volta ao Algarve, the Three Days of West Flanders, Paris–Nice, Tirreno–Adriatico, the Volta a Catalunya, the Tour of the Basque Country, the Circuit de la Sarthe, the Tour de Romandie, the Circuit de Lorraine, Bayern–Rundfahrt, the Critérium du Dauphiné, the Eneco Tour, the Tour du Limousin, and Circuit Franco-Belge, but did not achieve a stage win, classification win, or podium finish in any of them. Grand Tours Giro d'Italia thumb|right|alt=A road racing cyclist wearing a white jersey, stylised with blue and brown diamonds, and brown shorts.|John Gadret won a stage and finished fourth overall in the Giro, easily the best overall Grand Tour finish for both Gadret and the team. Ag2r's squad for the Giro d'Italia had as its leader Gadret, the 13th-place finisher in the 2010 Giro who aimed to improve upon that placing and ride to a top ten finish. Dessel and Nocentini were named to the squad to aim for stage wins and breakaway representation.http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/05/news/ag2r-la-mondiale-chases-stages-top-10-at-2011-giro-ditalia_170910 Ag2r-La Mondiale chases stages, top 10 at 2011 Giro d’Italia 2011-05-02 VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 2011-10-17 2011-05-06 https://web.archive.org/web/20110506095753/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/05/news/ag2r-la-mondiale-chases-stages-top-10-at-2011-giro-ditalia_170910 dead The team's showing in the stage 1 team time trial was mediocre at best, as they came home 16th of the 23 teams, 49 seconds off the winning pace set by THR 2011.Stephen Farrand http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-1/results HTC-Highroad triumphs in team time trial 2011-05-07 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-05-07 Montaguti finished near the front of the field in the Giro's first two road races, taking tenth in the mass sprint finish to stage 2, and likewise tenth in stage 3 when the field was a little more split up.Barry Ryan http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/video-cavendish-says-finish-line-anger-not-directed-at-petacchi Video: Cavendish says finish line anger not directed at Petacchi 2011-05-08 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-05-09http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-3/results Vicioso victorious in Rapallo 2011-05-09 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-05-10 Gadret tried to bridge to the leader on the road (Martin Kohler) in stage 5 one of that stage's many dirt road sections, but he experienced mechanical trouble and finished well down on the day, losing almost a minute to the race's top riders.Les Clarke http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-5/results Weening wins stage and takes over Giro d'Italia lead 2011-05-11 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-05-12 Gadret lay in 26th place after eight stages, which was the eve of the race's first summit finish, at Mount Etna.Les Clarke http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-8/results Gatto and Contador surprise the sprinters 2011-05-14 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-05-15 Gadret was ninth on Etna, losing over a minute to stage winner, new race leader, and eventual Giro champion Alberto Contador, but only 17 seconds to the race's other top riders, and he put in time to the vast majority of the field. The ride moved him up 11 places in the overall standings.Les Clarke http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-9/results Contador climbs to stage victory and into overall lead 2011-05-15 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-05-16 Gadret showed his best form, and cunning, in stage 11. With Contador suggesting that he may tactically surrender the jersey on this stage,Stephen Farrand http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-focused-on-overall-victory-at-the-giro-ditalia Contador focused on overall victory at the Giro d'Italia 2011-05-17 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-05-18http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-only-focused-on-having-pink-in-milan Contador only focused on having pink in Milan 2011-05-18 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-05-18 the expectation was that the victor would come from a member of the morning breakaway. Instead, the LAM 2011 team mounted a strong chase to bring the breakaway riders back. Their leader Michele Scarponi later admitted that he had hoped to be the day's winner,Stephen Farrand http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/no-home-win-for-michele-scarponi No home win for Michele Scarponi 2011-05-19 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-05-18 but Gadret took the diminished peloton by surprise with a well-timed attack on the stage's final kilometer to claim the first Grand Tour stage win of his career.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-11/results Gadret grabs first Grand Tour stage win 2011-05-18 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-05-18 Gadret and Dupont then showed climbing prowess in the first of three consecutive high mountain stages that preceded the second rest day. While Contador and José Rujano were easily the strongest riders on the day, the Ag2r tandem broke away from the peloton behind and secured third and fourth positions on the day. Gadret was third, which afforded him a time bonus in addition to the actual time taken. This moved him into the top ten for the first time in the race, in eighth. Dupont also entered the top ten after this stage, at tenth place.Peter Cossins http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-13/results Contador extends GC lead as rivals suffer 2011-05-20 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-05-20 With sixth place the next day on Monte Zoncolan and attrition to other riders, Gadret moved up further, to fifth place. Dupont finished eighth on this stage to move up to eighth overall.Les Clarke http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-14/results Anton conquers Monte Zoncolan 2011-05-21 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-22 Gadret gained further time against the vast majority of the field in the Giro's queen stage, stage 15, by finishing fifth and moving up to fourth place in the overall standings. Dupont struggled, coming in 22nd on the day, to fall to 15th overall.Les Clarke http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-15/results Two’s a treat for Nieve and Euskaltel-Euskadi 2011-05-22 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-05-24 Gadret finished the race in fourth place, holding it after each of the remaining stages. Dupont took back a little time against some of the other riders in the field in stages 17 and 20, to improve his final position to 12th.Barry Ryan http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-21/results Contador claims second Giro d'Italia victory 2011-05-29 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-05-31 Gadret's fourth place was the team's best overall placement in a Grand Tour in their history, bettering the sixth place attained by Cyril Dessel in the 2006 Tour de France. Tour de France Gadret rode both the Giro and the Tour in 2010, an arrangement which resulted in some controversy when he refused to grant Roche, the squad's leader for the race, his wheel after the Irishman had punctured at a particularly inopportune time.Conal Andrews http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/5026/Roche-satisfied-with-15th-but-missed-out-on-possible-11th-place-overall.aspx Roche satisfied with 15th, but missed out on possible 11th place overall 2010-07-26 VeloNation VeloNation LLC 2011-10-22 This coupled with Gadret's recuperation after the extremely difficult Giro, and his admission that he prefers the Italian Grand Tour in any event, led to speculation as to whether the two would both be named to the squad. He claimed he would ride only to support Roche, if he rode at all.Conal Andrews http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8661/Gadret-considering-Tour-participation-would-play-support-role-if-he-goes.aspx Gadret considering Tour participation, would play support role if he goes 2011-06-06 VeloNation VeloNation LLC 2011-10-22 Lavenu stated that Gadret's impressive Giro had grown his standing with the team, and that the feud between him and Roche had been forgotten, so he hoped Gadret would ride the Tour.Barry Ryan http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/lavenu-hopes-gadret-will-ride-tour-de-france Lavenu hopes Gadret will ride Tour de France 2011-05-31 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-24 Confident of his recovery abilities, Gadret did indeed start the Tour.http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ag2r-la-mondiale-finalizes-tour-de-france-squad AG2R-La Mondiale finalizes Tour de France squad 2011-06-26 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-24 The team had only modest accomplishments in the Tour. They had another mediocre performance in the team time trial, coming in 13th of 22 teams this time around.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-2/results Garmin-Cervelo wins team time trial Les Clarke Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-07-03 2011-10-24 Hinault contested four sprint finishes in the first half of the Tour, but did not pose a serious challenge for victory in any of them, with fourth place in stage 3 his best result.http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cavendish-hushovd-relegated-in-tour-de-france-sprint Cavendish, Hushovd relegated in Tour de France sprint Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-07-04 2011-10-24 Before stage 11, Gadret withdrew from the race due to fatigue stemming from the Giro.Pierre Carrey http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/hard-recovery-from-giro-for-john-gadret Hard recovery from Giro for John Gadret 2011-07-07 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-24 He had been in 66th place, 25'09" behind race leader Thomas Voeckler.Stephen Farrand http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-10/results Greipel defeats Cavendish for stage win in Carmaux 2011-07-12 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-24Susan Westemeyer http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-11/results Cavendish gets stage number three and green jersey in Lavaur 2011-07-13 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-24 Roche lay 13th at this point, 3'45" down. He entered the top ten the next day despite losing time, since attrition to other riders moved him up to tenth place.Susan Westemeyer http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-12/results Sanchez prevails on Luz-Ardiden 2011-07-14 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-24 He lost significant time in stage 14 on the Plateau de Beille, however, ceding six minutes to the race's top riders and falling to 18th. However, this stage also revealed Péraud as a rider to watch. He finished with the elite group, which lost time to just three riders, and vaulted from 19th in the overall classification up to 12th.Les Clarke http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-14/results Vanendert tops Plateau de Beille 2011-07-16 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-24 Péraud's position held steady for the next three days, in stages won by sprinters and breakaways. In stage 18, which finished at the Col du Galibier, Péraud finished a modest 16th, but this result moved him into the top ten overall.Susan Westemeyer http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-18/results Schleck's mountain raid nets stage win 2011-07-21 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-24 He dropped back out of the top ten the next day on Alpe d'Huez by finishing 12th and sufficiently behind Pierre Rolland that the younger Frenchman took his place,Peter Cossins http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-19/results Schleck's mountain raid nets stage win 2011-07-22 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-24 but regained tenth overall the next day in Grenoble thanks to his super time trial skills.Les Clarke http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-20/results Evans conquers all with picture perfect time trial 2011-07-23 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-24 He held tenth the next day to finish as the team's best-placed rider. Roche's final position was 26th.Barry Ryan http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-21/results Cadel Evans wins 2011 Tour de France 2011-07-24 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-24 Vuelta a España Again following the pattern of 2010, Roche also rode the Vuelta as Ag2r's squad leader. He hoped to improve upon both his dismal Tour, which he admitted was hampered by a crash sustained shortly beforehand at the Critérium du Dauphiné, and his seventh overall in the 2010 Vuelta.Shane Stokes http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/9332/Ag2r-La-Mondiale-confirms-Vuelta-a-Espana-lineup-Roches-backing-named.aspx Ag2r La Mondiale confirms Vuelta a España lineup, Roche’s backing named 2011-08-08 VeloNation VeloNation LLC 2011-10-25 Their performance in the third Grand Tour team time trial of the season was even worse than the first two, as they were a paltry 19th of 22, immediately putting Roche 42 seconds off the pace.Les Clarke http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-1/results Leopard Trek claims team time trial 2011-08-20 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-25 https://web.archive.org/web/20110919075256/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-1/results 2011-09-19 dead Roche led the peloton across the finish line in stage 3, but since it was for fifth place after breakaway riders took all the time bonuses, it had no substantial effect on his overall placing.Pete Cossins http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-3/results Lastras solos to Vuelta stage win 2011-08-22 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-25 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20111103151926/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-3/results 2011-11-03 Roche showed strongly on the Valdepeñas de Jaén climb in stage 5, finishing just 7 seconds behind stage winner Joaquim Rodríguez. However, since this final climb was rather short, time gaps were small throughout the field, and this performance only gained Roche one place in the overall standings, moving him up to 25th.Stephen Farrand http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-5/results Rodriguez powers to stage victory 2010-08-24 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-25 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120824204834/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-5/results 2012-08-24 Stage 8 proved largely similar, as Rodríguez again won on a short, steep final climb, and Roche finished in the top ten on the day, 15 seconds back this time. He gained two places with this ride.Les Clarke http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-8/results Rodríguez climbs to stage win 2011-08-27 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-25 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130921120126/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-8/results 2013-09-21 Mondory contested two of the field sprints in the race's first week, but did not come particularly close to winning either, finishing eighth and then seventh in stages 2 and 7 respectively.Peter Cossins http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-2/results Sutton speeds to victory in Spain 2011-08-21 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-25 https://web.archive.org/web/20120820071416/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-2/results 2012-08-20 deadLes Clarke http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-7/results Kittel confirms as top sprinter in Talavera de la Reina 2011-08-26 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-25 Montaguti found a successful breakaway in stage 11, taking sufficient mountains points to earn the blue polka-dotted jersey for two days.Stephen Farrand http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-11/results Moncoutie prevails on Estación de Montaña Manzaneda 2011-08-31 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-25 https://web.archive.org/web/20111103152841/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-11/results 2011-11-03 dead He eventually finished second in the classification. Roche also found a winning break in the second half of the Vuelta, joining 19 others to finish 1'33" ahead of the main field in stage 13. This result moved him up to 14th overall.Susan Westemeyer http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-13/results Albasini claims Vuelta stage in Ponferrada 2011-09-02 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-25 https://web.archive.org/web/20110924033803/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-13/results 2011-09-24 dead Mondory and Montaguti took further high stage placings in stages 16 and 18, respectively, though both were with a time gap to the day's winner.Barry Ryan http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-16/results Haedo wins chaotic finish in Haro 2011-09-06 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-25 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20111103152639/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-16/results 2011-11-03 Susan Westemeyer http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-18/results Gavazzi wins big in Noja 2011-09-08 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-25 https://web.archive.org/web/20120908150517/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-18/results 2012-09-08 dead Roche slipped slightly in the last few stages of the race to finish 16th, falling well short of his goal to improve upon his placing in the 2010 Vuelta.Les Clarke http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-21/results Sagan steals final stage from pure sprinters 2011-09-11 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2011-10-25 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130102215145/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-21/results 2013-01-02 Season victories Date Race Competition Rider Country Location February 3 Étoile de Bessèges, Stage 2 UCI Europe TourLloyd Mondory FRA Saint-Ambroix February 6 Étoile de Bessèges, Overall UCI Europe TourAnthony Ravard FRA February 6 Étoile de Bessèges, Points classification UCI Europe TourAnthony Ravard FRA April 22 Giro del Trentino, Sprints classification UCI Europe TourMatteo Montaguti ITA May 18 Giro d'Italia, Stage 11 UCI World TourJohn Gadret FRA Castelfidardo June 19 Tour de Suisse, Sprint classification UCI World TourLloyd Mondory FRA June 19 Route du Sud, Sprints classification UCI Europe TourJulien Bérard FRA August 4 Paris–Corrèze, Teams classification UCI Europe TourThe riders on the squad were Julien Bérard, Guillaume Bonnafond, Dimitri Champion, Mikaël Cherel, Cyril Dessel, Julien Loubet, David Lelay, and Lloyd Mondory August 21 Châteauroux Classic UCI Europe TourAnthony Ravard FRA Châteauroux August 25 Tour du Poitou-Charentes, Stage 3 UCI Europe TourAnthony Ravard FRA Châtellerault August 26 Tour du Poitou-Charentes, Teams classification UCI Europe TourThe riders on the squad were Martin Elmiger, Maxime Bouet, John Gadret, Yuriy Krivtsov, Romain Lemarchand, Jean-Christophe Péraud, Anthony Ravard, and Christophe Riblon October 7 Tour of Beijing, Stage 3 UCI World TourNicolas Roche IRL Yongning Footnotes N References 30em Category:2011 road cycling season by team Category:Decathlon CMA CGM Team Category:2011 in French sport