Benoit Cosnefrois has arrived in Australia and will be part of the French team for the elite men's road race at the UCI World Championships.

AG2R Citroën's Benoit Cosnefrois had initially ruled out selection for this year's world championships, but after his victory at the Grand Prix de Quebec last week, he came around to the idea. He secretly flew from France to Australia, arriving on Tuesday.

Shortly after his victory, Kosnefroi explained the reasons he presented to national coach Thomas Voeckler and was adamant that he would not make the trip to Wollongong.

"I haven't proved myself because I haven't won a race until today," Kosnefroy said in Canada. 'Also, I want to win the AG2R in the last race of the season, and going to Australia means a long trip and jet lag.'

Four days later, when Voeckler announced his selection for the World Championships, Kosnefroi was not on the list of nine heading to Australia, but on Tuesday L'Équipe (open in new tab) included him on the provisional long list of 12 that was quietly submitted to the UCI reported.

Reports circulated on Monday that Cosnefroi was heading to Australia to join the French team, but neither AG2R Citroën nor Voeckler confirmed this. On Tuesday, L'Équipe reported that Kosnefroi had joined the French team at the Wollongong Surf Leisure Resort. It showed pictures of him arriving at the French team's hotel and with world champion Julien Alaphilippe.

With Kosnefroi's arrival in Australia, Voeckler has a decision to make for Sunday's road race.

France has nine riders in the field after Julien Alaphilippe won last year's Leuven World Championships.

It was initially expected that Bruno Almirail and Remi Cavagna, one of the athletes who will double in the time trial, would replace Kosnefrois, but on Tuesday L'Équipe suggested that was not necessarily the case.

Voeckler will confirm the nine-man lineup at the French team's pre-race press conference on Wednesday. The deadline for final selections is Thursday at 12:30 pm.

In addition to Cosnefroi and champion Alaphilippe, who will compete in Australia despite dislocating his shoulder at the Vuelta a España, the French team in Wollongong will include Christophe Laporte, Valentin Madouas and Romain Bardet.