Top French rider from last year’s Tour bound for American team

christophe le mevelChristphe Le Mével is bound for the American Garmin-Transitions team for 2011, according to l’Equipe. The French rider is coming to the end of a two-year stint at Française des Jeux, having spent his entire career with French teams. The move has yet to be confirmed by either team, or the rider himself.

Le Mével turned professional in 2000 as a stagiere with Credit Agricole, where Garmin-Transitions team manager Jonathan Vaughters was a rider; he stayed with the green and white team until it folded in 2008. His best result in that time was victory in stage 16 of the 2005 Giro d’Italia.

The 29-year-old’s best season came in 2009, his first with Française des Jeux, when he finished as best Frenchman in the Tour de France in 10th place; he also finished 10th in Paris-Nice and the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré.

This season the rider from northern Brittany started the season well, winning the Tour du Haut Var in February, but is enjoying less success in the Tour de France. He lost 6’30” on Sunday’s stage to Morzine-Avoriaz and currently sits in 30th place, 8’53” down on race leader Cadel Evans.

With Garmin-Transitions’ 34-year-old overall classification rider Christian Vandevelde crashing out of the Tour once more, Le Mével could provide a useful alternative for the American team.