Even during the off-season, Valentin Madouas is a boy in high demand and it is not his silver medal at the Paris Olympic Games that will change the situation. “I try to do the things I want to do but you learn to say no”smiles the Groupama-FDJ rider, present Tuesday at the presentation of the Tour de France 2025, and the next day at the Loudéac velodrome, where the French Track Championship of the Future is being contested this week. For DirectVelothe 28-year-old Finistère looked back on his season and spoke of 2025 where certain things will change for him.
DirectVelo: What is your assessment of your 2024 season?
Valentin Madouas: It’s mixed. Obviously, there are positives with the Olympic medal. I had good performances, I was always present but I didn't win a race (see its DirectVelo file). I was always missing a little something, especially in the Classics, to do better. I'm satisfied but it could have been a better season, I hoped for better.
What did you miss to do better?
I crashed at the start of the season, at the Tour of the Algarve. I had a crack in my sacrum, which handicapped me in my training. I arrived at the Classics a little late. It was disturbing. Subsequently, I did not have the success I wanted to have. On the Tour, I felt very fit but I wasn't ahead on the good stages. When I was less well, the breakaway went to the end and vice versa… I think that on the Tour, I was in the best form of my career and I was able to show it behind, at the Olympics.
How did you experience the second half of the season?
It was good, I felt very good but the same, I lacked success at the right time. The legs were good but it wasn't going the way I wanted it to go, I was chasing results and as a result, I perhaps put a little more pressure on myself.
“I MISSED A BIG RESULT”
Was it easy to get back involved after the Olympic Games?
I didn't want my season to end at the Olympics and I think it did. I missed a big result but I was present in all the races. It was obviously harder for the restart at the Tour du Limousin, but afterwards I felt very good. I managed to be there until the Tour of Lombardy. I remained serious until the end of the season. I was able to lay a good foundation for work for next year.
Are you already thinking a lot about next season?
Even if I'm still enjoying the holidays, I can't wait to start a new cycle. I'm going to change things. We will try to revitalize my racing program and lots of little things within the team. It will allow me, I hope, to repeat a season with a lot of victories and great performances.
Have you missed winning this season?
Yes, it's missing, but perhaps I focused too hard on it and behind that, it's not always easy to manage. I want to win quickly next year. I want to win, the team is waiting for me like those who follow the bike. I have to do it quickly and I know that if that's the case, I can ride on it. I want to do great performances in the Classics and then a great Tour de France.
“DO THINGS A LITTLE DIFFERENT”
Do you want to discover new challenges?
Not necessarily. Since becoming a professional, I have managed to target my objectives well. I know which races suit me best and this is the case with the Classics. My start to the season will be focused on that. The basis will remain the same for me, it's more the approach to the races that will change to get away from the routine. When you finish 3rd in the Tour of Flanders, it's proof that the plan works but after a while, it needs to be revitalized. I'm going to do things a little different in the preparation and the racing program. There is always the question of the Grand Tour. I always love the Tour de France, I don't feel any extra pressure when I'm at the start because I'm not a rider who comes for the general classification. I'm going for the steps.
But is there still room in the Tour de France for a rider like you?
It's complicated, it's true. We will take a good look at the course and the different opportunities. It's certain that if you have a Tour with ten sprints and five summit finishes where you already know who is going to win, I don't have many possibilities left. But there is room… We will have to target the steps that correspond to us, why not go and recognize them. I think it's possible for me to win a stage. I like this test. It's a hard race in the head and physically but we cycle for that.
You will already begin your eighth season among professionals and your eighth with the team…
I'm getting older (smile). I am one of the riders who has been on the team the longest. I know how the structure works well. I am a base to rest for certain runners, for example I was able to interact with quite a few recruits. My role has not changed within the team, I have always been a protected rider, I have always had my chance. I want to continue to grasp it as much as possible, perhaps targeting things better. This is what we will try to do next season.
