2022 SEASON PREVIEW

From Grand Tour contenders and their loyal lieutenants to sprinters, rouleurs and talented all-rounders, we weigh up the WorldTour teams’ chances of glory over the coming year

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MEN’S WORLD TEAMS

AG2R CITROEN TEAM

Country: France

Riders: 29

Under-26: 13

Over-35: 3

Key stat: The team has placed a rider in the top four in four out of the last eight Tour de France editions

Perhaps suffering buyer’s remorse following the underwhelming returns of Greg Van Avermaet and Bob Jungels, Ag2r have kept transfer activity to a minimum this season. Pressure will therefore be on their posse of talented young French climbers and puncheurs to step up, with Benoît Cosnefroy, Clément Champoussin and Aurélien Paret-Peintre all now in their mid-twenties and ripe to fulfil the potential they’ve promised. Ben O’Connor last year brought back memories of the Romain Bardet era, but a repeat of his fourth place at the Tour is a huge ask – instead, stage wins and hilly Classics are where the team could excel.

ASTANA QAZAQSTAN

Country: Kazakhstan Riders: 29

Under-26: 11 Over-35: 3

Key stat: Riders responsible for nine of their 13 wins last year have now left