The road season having recently ended, it is time to take stock for Auvergne’s professional cyclists, who have had a contrasting year. Rather a good vintage for Julian Alaphilippe, having regained his punch, not even far from being excellent for Romain Bardet, once again becoming the best Frenchman in the UCI ranking, after having signed exploits in Liège and on the Tour. On the other hand, Rémi Cavagna has languished under his new colors, in a Movistar formation that he wishes to leave.
Romain Bardet: a year apart, marked by two great exploits
Romain Bardet (photo: Jérémie Fulleringer)
Ill, Romain Bardet was unable to complete his season at the Tour of Lombardy but this annoying package does not tarnish a much better record than in recent years at DSM. Because this 2024 exercise should be placed almost at the top in the memory shelf of the native of Brioude, who arrived at the twilight of his career at 33 years old.
Certainly, the Auvergne climber has not again become that rider capable of fighting for overall victory on the Tour, as at his zenith (2nd in 2016, 3rd in 2017), but he was able to reinvent himself, reprogram his software in terms of tactic and it ended up paying off. He is indeed coming out of a season apart, marked by at least two great exploits, rewarding his audacity and his (rediscovered) taste for movement racing.
At the end of these two escapes, a stage victory on the Tour, in Rimini and a yellow jersey worn for the first time, on June 26, but also, two months earlier, a 2nd place in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, his second podium on the Walloon Monument, after being 3rd in 2018.
Last Tour de France for Romain Bardet who will end his road career in 2025 (video)
His desire to favor stage victories also almost led to a first success in the Giro, where Valentin Paret-Peintre deprived him of this happiness, on the heights of the Bocca de la Selva (2nd of the 10th stage) .
Bardet will perhaps have his revenge in 2025. He will return one last time to the Tour of Italy in May before bowing out at the Dauphiné.
Julian Alaphilippe: what if the troubles were finally behind him?
Julian Alaphilippe (photo Soudal-Quick Step/Tim de Waele-Getty Images)
Julian Alaphilippe and Quick-Step have just concluded their tenth and final season together. Ten years during which Loulou experienced a lot of ups, then a lot of downs from which he seems to have (finally) come out of this year 2024.
Certainly the results are not yet up to the level of his last great season, in 2021, when he notably raised his arms in the Flèche Wallonne, the Tour de France and the world championships.
But this 2024 vintage at least had the merit of putting him back in the saddle. First, because he accumulated 71 days of racing, a total that he had not reached since 2018 (74), proof that he knew how to stay on his bike better than in recent years. But above all, because he shone again in prestigious races.
premium Julian Alaphilippe, the end of the Quick-Step years: a look back at a decade where the rider experienced everything in the Belgian team
His stage victory in the Giro, in which he participated for the first time, now allows him to have at least one success on each of the three grand tours on his record. He also stood out in major one-day races such as Milan-Sanremo (9th) or the Clasica San Sebastian (2nd).
We may nevertheless regret his outings in the jersey of the France team. At the Olympics, the scenario never really allowed him to stand out (11th) while at the Worlds, his abandonment after a fall reminded us that the difficulties always loomed over him a little. It’s up to him to get rid of it once and for all at Tudor, his new team.
Rémi Cavagna: a white season and already a departure from the Movistar?
Rémi Cavagna (photo LNC/V. Vaning)
Did Rémi Cavagna compete in his last race under the colors of Movistar at the end of last week, during the Tour of Guangxi, a Chinese stage race which he finished in 38th place? Despite a contract that runs until 2026, the Auvergne rider could in fact leave the Spanish team just one year after his arrival, at the end of a difficult season.
A year ago, when his contract with the Soudal-Quick Step team was coming to an end and he was coming off his best season (five victories, including the overall in the Tour of Slovakia), Rémi Cavagna responded to the sirens of the Movistar which was to entrust him with more responsibilities and even the status of protected rider in certain races. His participation in the 2024 Tour de France was clearly mentioned.
Cycling: already the end of the adventure between Rémi Cavagna and the Movistar team?
But nothing went as planned for the Auvergne rider. His integration was made complicated due in particular to the language barrier and his results never managed to take off: he did not sign any top 10, even in time trials, despite his specialty. Contrary to what was announced, he was not selected for the Tour de France.
After this white season, his future within Movistar is uncertain. As revealed by the Spanish daily AsRémi Cavagna could terminate his contract just one year after his arrival and join Groupama-FDJ.
Romain Combaud: three Monuments for the adopted Auvergne this year
Romain Combaud (photo La Montagne)
Romain Combaud ended the year 2024 with a discovery: the Tour of Lombardy. This is the first time that the adopted Auvergnat took part in the last Monument of the season (71st).
Auvergnats Romain Combaud and Romain Bardet will still be teammates, in 2025, at Dsm-Firmenisch
This year, the DSM rider will have taken part in three of the five major classics. Starting with Milan-Sanremo, where he was one of the last escapees to be recaptured after a long escape (72nd). On Liège-Bastogne-Liège, he fully invested in his role as teammate (107th), particularly for his friend Bardet (2nd, behind Pogacar).
As he reached the end of his contract, Romain Combaud extended it for one season.
Léo Bisiaux: a successful first season in U23
Léo Bisiaux (photo Decathlon AG2R La World).
Having turned pro at the age of 18 in the Decathlon continental team, Rio native Léo Bisiaux made his mark this season in the junior category (U23), with a view to future success.
Cyclo-cross: Auvergne Léo Bisiaux reduces his calendar and focuses his winter on the Worlds in Liévin
No victory on the record for the little Auvergne prodigy but milestones set throughout the year, in the main stage races in his new age category (19-22 years old). First on the always renowned Peace Race, at the beginning of June in the Czech Republic (3rd), then at the Giro Next Gen, the Tour of Italy for hopefuls, finished in 6th place and 3rd among the 19-year-old riders.
But the best was yet to come and arrived at the end of August with a 4th place (2nd young) at the prestigious Tour de l’Avenir.
Vincent Balmisse, Manuel Caillaud and Raphaël Rochette
