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TEAM PROFILE
Country: France
Manager: Cyrille Guimard
Best Tour: Snatched third place and the mountains prize in 1998
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Cofidis have had a season of turmoil, which could yet affect their chances of competing at the highest level.
Doping investigations into the team have been rife since rider Philippe Gaumont admitted taking the banned substance EPO while competing.
He was axed and, in the ensuing fall-out, manager Alain Bondue and doctor Jean-Jacques Menuet resigned.
And then team leader David Millar was barred from the Tour by officials because of the team investigation.
Millar has not failed a drugs test and has denied all wrongdoing but his absence - he looked the strong favourite to the win the prologue - will dent the team heavily.
The team have bought intelligently, though, bringing in Stuart O'Grady.
Massimiliano Lelli was their best-placed rider in 15th place at last year's Tour and should be the major contender in the GC once more.
The team's best outing so far in the season's one-day races was third courtesy of O'Grady in the Milan-San Remo.
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