Promising French climber changes teams after four years with Marc Madiot24-year-old Mikael Cherel will join the AG2R-La Mondiale team on a one-year contract for 2011, after spending his entire professional career with FDJ (formerly known as Française des Jeux). The young Frenchman, who is regarded as a punchy climber, has developed steadily since joining Marc Madiot’s team in mid-2007, and has impressed AG2R-La Mondiale enough for them to offer him a contract.
Cherel was the junior French national champion in 2003 and, although he has no professional victories so far, has been steadily improving. In 2009 he finished tenth in the Tour Down Under and 25th in the Vuelta a España; his best result of 2010 so far has been fifth place overall in Paris-Corrèze.
“As you may have read, I will be racing for AG2R next year!” the 24-year-old from Normandy wrote on his Facebook fan page. “I’ve been itching to announce this earlier, but I had to wait until the official announcement.
“I’m very happy to join this team after riding for four seasons with FDJ,” he continued. “I hope to achieve something satisfying in this Vuelta and in 2011 with my new jersey!”
As Cherel writes, he is currently in Sevilla, Spain, where he will be riding the Vuelta a España in support of Christophe Le Mével.