Giro d’Italia points classification winner Nacer Bouhanni will take a step down to join Cofidis as he seeks the opportunity to shine at the Tour de France.
Despite picking up three stage wins at the Giro d’Italia, alongside the red jersey, Bouhanni was overlooked for the Tour this year in favour of newly-crowned French champion Arnaud Demare.
Though the decision had been made long before the Tour, Bouhanni – who was desperate for another chance after he crashed out his home Grand Tour last year – went public with his disappointment at missing the cut.
And he now hopes a move to Cofidis, which will reunite him with lead-out man Dominique Rollin, will allow him to challenge for the green jersey at next year’s Tour.
Cofidis have also signed FDJ.fr’s Geoffrey Soupe and Giant-Shimano’s Jonas Ahlstrand to provide what they hope will be a strong sprint train for their new leader.
Bouhanni has also told L’Equipe, the move will see him target one of the sprinters’ Classics early in the season before building his preparation for the Tour.
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