The French-based Direct Energie squad has gained notoriety in recent years as one of the best Pro Continental teams in professional cycling, and a local fan favorite at the Tour de France.
The Direct Energie team has its origins as the Bonjour cycling team, formed in 2000 and part of the UCI Pro Tour from 2005-2010, before moving down to the UCI Europe Tour beginning in 2011.
Outfitting Direct Energie is Italian sportswear company Alé, who have designed a new yellow and black kit to reflect the branding of title sponsor Direct Energie. The Direct Energie team ride bikes designed by Spanish company Beistegui Hermanos and made with Shimano components.
Direct Energie have a lot to be excited about in 2017 and currently sit in 3rd place on the UCI Europe Tour with 2851 UCI points, behind only Cofidis Solutions Credits and Androni Giacattoli-Sidermec.
There are multiple recognizable names on the Direct Energie squad, but none more notable than Sylvain Chavanel. At 38 years of age, Chavanel refuses to shows signs of aging and continues to be one of Direct Energie's most successful individual riders. Chavanel had a solid showing in the Spring, taking 4th overall at Three Days of De Panne, 5th overall at Four Days of Dunkirk, and 9th at the Tour of Flanders, while also posting the fourth fastest time at the French National Time Trial Championships. The veteran Frenchman was also selected as part of the 9-rider Direct Energie squad for the 104th Tour de France, which marks Chavanel's 16th consecutive start at the world's most famous Grand Tour. While it is unclear how many more seasons Chavanel will continue to ride for Direct Energie, he has made the most of his time with the squad since signing in 2016 after his departure from the now-defunct IAM cycling team.
Bryand Coquard is another name on the Direct Energie roster that is sure to register with fans across the globe. Coquard has ridden the entirety of his young professional career with Direct Energie, signing in 2013 when the team was title-sponsored by Europcar, and has made a name for himself with his runner-up performance to Andre Greipel on the Champs-Elysees in 2015 and in Limoges at last year's Tour de France. The young French rider appears to be on an upward trajectory, and has the intangibles to become a dominant force in professional cycling in the near future.
Another notable veteran rider for the Direct Energie team is Thomas Voeckler. Voeckler is best known for his gutsy performances at the Tour de France, and is making his 14th consecutive appearance at the 104th edition of the Tour de France. The French rider's best year came in 2011, when he finished 4th overall at the Tour after wearing the Maillot Jaune for nine stages. Voeckler has not had the same impact at this year's edition of the Tour de France, but Voeckler continues to be a selfless team rider and true veteran leader.
It would also be unwise not to point out the importance of Lilian Calmejane to the Direct Energie squad. 2017 has been a breakout year for the young French rider, who has captured overall wins at the Circuit de la Sarthe, Settimana Internazionale di Coppi e Bartali, and Etoile de Bessages. On the bigger stages, Calmejane took home the polka dot jersey as King of the Mountains at Paris-Nice, and captured an emphatic stage victory on Stage 8 of the Tour de France, which subsequently led to him wearing the polka dot jersey on Stage 9. Calmejane has become a centerpiece of Direct Energie's core of impressive young riders. If Calmejane is able to build upon his success in 2017, he could become a dominant all-rounder and contender for Grand Tour overall victories in the years to come.
The nine-man roster for Direct Energie at the 2017 Tour de France includes Thomas Voeckler, Lilian Calmejane, Thomas Boudat, Romain Sicard, Angelo Tulik, Perrig Quemeneur, Adrien Petit, and Yohann Gene.
The complete list of riders for the Direct Energie team includes:
Riders
Bryand Coquard is another name on the Direct Energie roster that is sure to register with fans across the globe. Coquard has ridden the entirety of his young professional career with Direct Energie, signing in 2013 when the team was title-sponsored by Europcar, and has made a name for himself with his runner-up performance to Andre Greipel on the Champs-Elysees in 2015 and in Limoges at last year's Tour de France. The young French rider appears to be on an upward trajectory, and has the intangibles to become a dominant force in professional cycling in the near future.
Another notable veteran rider for the Direct Energie team is Thomas Voeckler. Voeckler is best known for his gutsy performances at the Tour de France, and is making his 14th consecutive appearance at the 104th edition of the Tour de France. The French rider's best year came in 2011, when he finished 4th overall at the Tour after wearing the Maillot Jaune for nine stages. Voeckler has not had the same impact at this year's edition of the Tour de France, but Voeckler continues to be a selfless team rider and true veteran leader.
It would also be unwise not to point out the importance of Lilian Calmejane to the Direct Energie squad. 2017 has been a breakout year for the young French rider, who has captured overall wins at the Circuit de la Sarthe, Settimana Internazionale di Coppi e Bartali, and Etoile de Bessages. On the bigger stages, Calmejane took home the polka dot jersey as King of the Mountains at Paris-Nice, and captured an emphatic stage victory on Stage 8 of the Tour de France, which subsequently led to him wearing the polka dot jersey on Stage 9. Calmejane has become a centerpiece of Direct Energie's core of impressive young riders. If Calmejane is able to build upon his success in 2017, he could become a dominant all-rounder and contender for Grand Tour overall victories in the years to come.
The nine-man roster for Direct Energie at the 2017 Tour de France includes Thomas Voeckler, Lilian Calmejane, Thomas Boudat, Romain Sicard, Angelo Tulik, Perrig Quemeneur, Adrien Petit, and Yohann Gene.
The complete list of riders for the Direct Energie team includes:
Riders
| ANDERSON Ryan | 22.07.1987 | CAN | |
| BOUDAT Thomas | 24.02.1994 | FRA | |
| CHAVANEL Sylvain | 30.06.1979 | FRA | |
| COQUARD Bryan | 25.04.1992 | FRA | |
| DUCHESNE Antoine | 12.09.1991 | CAN | |
| GENE Yohann | 25.06.1981 | FRA | |
| GUILLEMOIS Romain | 28.03.1991 | FRA | |
| HIVERT Jonathan | 23.03.1985 | FRA | |
| HUREL Tony | 01.11.1987 | FRA | |
| JEANDESBOZ Fabrice | 04.12.1984 | FRA | |
| MORICE Julien | 20.07.1991 | FRA | |
| NAULEAU Bryan | 17.03.1988 | FRA | |
| PETIT Adrien | 26.09.1990 | FRA | |
| PICHOT Alexandre | 06.01.1983 | FRA | |
| QUEMENEUR Perrig | 26.04.1984 | FRA | |
| SICARD Romain | 01.01.1988 | FRA | |
| TULIK Angelo | 02.12.1990 | FRA | |
| VOECKLER Thomas | 22.06.1979 | FRA |
Neo-Pros
| CALMEJANE Lilian | 06.12.1992 | FRA | |
| CARDIS Romain | 12.08.1992 | FRA | |
| CORNU Jeremy | 07.08.1991 | FRA | |
| GRELLIER Fabien | 31.10.1994 | FRA | |
| OURSELIN Paul | 13.04.1994 | FRA |
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