The first team in the top half of last seasons peleton, it's Ah jhay deux air!
Last Season
The best way I can put this is that AG2R were the only team that turned up to the Tour de France with the intention of racing Sky, and actively tried to win the race. The reason why more teams don't do that is usually because they can't and it speaks highly of the French squad. They went into the Tour trying to get Romain Bardet into yellow, and they failed at that, but third overall and a stage win at Peyragudes(above) shouldn't be frowned upon. Bardet rode possibly the worst time trial I've ever seen in Marseille to lose second place, but his real problem was the lack of summit finishes. On a harder course he might have had the legs to beat Froome. Bardet's season outside the tour wasn't hugely impressive, but top 10s at the Volta Catalunya, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Criterium du Dauphine were enough to just about make him AG2R's top rider in the World Tour.
Domenico Pozzovivo had a solid year as AG2R's second GC rider. His job is quite difficult given that his legs don't seem to be long enough to ride a time trial bike, and that discipline really tends to let him down. Still he scored a very respectable sixth place at the Giro and also had top 10s at the Abu Dhabi Tour, Tirreno-Adriatico, Tour de Suisse, Tour de Pologne and Il Lombardia.
The two other riders that deserve a mention are Oliver Naesen and Pierre Latour. Naesen was the emerging star of the classics season, with top 10s at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Kurne-Brussels-Kurne, Dwars Door Vlaanderen and a podium at E3 Harelbeke. He was perhaps on for much greater things at the Tour of Flanders (though I personally don't subscribe to the theory Gilbert would have been caught) before being taken out in Peter Sagan's flirtation with a spectator's jacket. Naesen's season highlight though was taking the Belgian road race championship, and his champs jersey looked great as he was a key rider for Bardet at the tour. Latour didn't have the best of seasons, but he deserves a mention just because of his huge potential. He already showed he was a great climber winning a stage of the Vuelta in 2016, but this season he became French time trial champion. Combining those two skills he'll get close to greatness.
Who left?
The pocket sherpa Pozzovivo (above) moves to Bahrain Merida, Hugo Houle goes to Astana and Sondre Holst Enger moves to the Israel Cycling Academy squad.
Who's joining?
Not much of a turnover of staff. the Standout name is Silvan Dillier(above). Dillier just does a lot, he's a good classics rider, won a stage of the Giro last year from a breakaway, has a good record in six day track racing, and won the overall at the Route du Sud which included an ascent of the Tourmalet. What AG2R look to get out of him will have to be seen but he's a very handy guy to have. Tony Gallopin and Clement Venturini join.
How will 2018 go?
Bardet will wear yellow at the tour, but if he's still in yellow by Paris will depend on what happens with Froome and how much the Giro takes out of Dumoulin. Naesen (above, middle) will win a cobbled classic too, E3 seems about right as it has climbs closer to the finish.