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STAGE 4: TEAM OF THE DAY: CREDIT AGRICOLE
June 24, 2008
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Credit Agricole
Registered Nation: France
Bicycles: Look
Components: Shimano
Key Riders: Thor Hushovd
Title Sponsors: Crv©dit Agricole is a French bank.
The Credit Agricole team is the continuation of Roger Legeay's Peugeot, Z and GAN teams
of the 1970's‚'80's and '90's. Greg LeMond won his last Tour de France on Z and cited his team's strong support and tactics for his third and final Tour victory.
As LeMond exited, trackie Chris Boardman entered and won the Tour de France prologue in 1994 and 1997. In 1995 the team signed Aussie trackie Stuart O'Grady and in 1998 O]Grady won his first Tour de France stage and wore the Maillot Jaune for three days. In 2001 O'Grady again wore the Maillot Jaune and also came close to winning the Maillot Vert sprint competition. The 2001 tour also saw German powerhouse Jens Voigt win a stage and spend a day in the the Maillot Jaune. That same Tour, the Credit Agricole squad won the Team Time Trial with Bobby Julich and Jonathan Vaugthers.
Norwegian Thor Hushovd became Credit Agricole's main sprinter in 2003 while Stuart O'Grady and Jens Voight moved over to Cofidis and Team CSC respectively.
Credit Agricole's 2005 Tour de France saw Christophe Moreau finish as the top French rider and Thor Hushovd won the Maillot Vert points classification.
In 2006, Hushovd won semi-classic Gent-Wevelgem, then took two Tour De France stage wins and spent two days in the Maillot Jaune. He capped his season with a stage win and the overall points classification at the Vuelta A Espana. But 2007 racing season was a lean one for Hushovd despite a win in the finale stage
at the Tour de France. In 2008, Credit Agricole will again look to Hushovd for stage wins and Italian Pietro Cauchioli for GC at the Tour with the added pressure that Credit Agricole is set to end their sponsorship with the end of the season.
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