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The French World Cup squad rode bicycles as a group on Wednesday afternoon
It was their first major exercise after the squad gathered at Clairefontaine
France are in Group C for the World Cup, alongside Denmark, Australia and Peru

Published: 18:22 EST, 23 May 2018 | Updated: 18:25 EST, 23 May 2018

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The Tour de France started a little early this year, as the national football team got on their bikes at Clairefontaine on Wednesday afternoon.

The French World Cup squad rode bicycles as a group as a part-fitness exercise, part-team bonding routine as they prepare for this summer's World Cup.

France's players, including star names Paul Pogba, Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann, rode out it matching blue and silver tracksuits.

The French World Cup squad rode bicycles as a group on Wednesday afternoon

It was the first major exercise together after the squad gathered at Clairefontaine

Full back Benjamin Mendy gestures to the cameras as he rides past in his France tracksuit

Modern footballers are expected to set a good example, and all the players and staff did so by responsibly wearing helmets as they rode through the sunny French countryside.

Manchester City full back Benjamin Mendy briefly contravened the highway code as he took a hand off the handlebars to salute the cameras as he rode past.

Mendy is in good spirits having just made Didier Deschamps squad, after a first season in Manchester blighted by a serious knee injury.

With the likes of Antoine Griezmann in the squad, France go to Russia among the favourites

The bike ride was the first major exercise the French World Cup squad have undertaken together after they arrived at their Clairefontaine base for the first time on Wednesday.

With a host of stars including Pogba and Griezmann at their disposal, they are among the favourites to win the World Cup - which no France team has managed on foreign soil, with their only world title coming at home in 1998.

One man who definitely won't feature is PSG midfielder Adrien Rabiot, who asked to be removed from Deschamps' standby list.

France are in Group C for the World Cup in Russia, drawn alongside Denmark, Australia and Peru.