Cofidis has reversed rumors that it will keep Axel Gingle in the Tour de France and added a French racer to its lineup for next Saturday's Grand Depart in Florence, Italy.

According to L'Équipe, 25-year-old Jingle will move to Visma-Ries A Bikes next season, despite an improved offer from Cofidis to stay with the French team until 2025.

As a result, the one-day and week-long stage race specialist was selected for the Tour. He and fellow Belgian Piet Aregart, who is also making his Tour debut, will primarily work as part of the sprint train of fellow Frenchman Bryan Coquard, the team announced in a press release.

Cocard, riding on momentum from his first win of the season at the 2024 Tour de Suisse, will be looking for a bunch sprint victory and his first career Grand Tour stage win dating back to 2013.

Former Tour de France mountains leader Simon Geschke (38, retired at the end of the season), former Spanish national team member Jesús Herrada, and Tour de France stage 2 winner Ion Izagirre are also in the lineup. The same goes for longtime French GC contender and philosophy writer Guillaume Martin.

"Our team is aiming for a stage win above all else," commented Cofidis general director Cedric Vasseur, winner of the 1997 Tour de France transition stage.

"It's a balanced formation. In the sprint, we work for Bryan Coquard and he can rely on Alexis Renard, Piet Aregart, and Alex Gingle. In another part, Guillaume Martin will support three players whenever the road gets tough: Ion Izaguirre, Jesus Herrada, and Simon Geschke.

Unlimited access to all Tour de France coverage - journalist reports, breaking news, on-site analysis of each stage of the race, and more. More info.