Marc Madiot is sounding the alarm about cycling, how it works and transfers. Photo: Groupama-FDJ cycling team
Marc Madiot, emblematic figure of cycling and manager of the Groupama-FDJ team, is worried about the financial abuses affecting the sport. The case of Maxim Van Gils, a young Belgian talent wishing to leave Lotto Dstny, perfectly illustrates the new challenges in the peloton.
Marc Madiot, the team boss Groupama-FDJis worried about the future of cycling. For several days, the case Maxim Van Gils raises many questions. The Belgian wants to terminate his contract with his current team, Lotto Dstny, to seek a more attractive salary elsewhere. In recent years, runners' agents have largely democratized these movements with an important place for the financial part. However, it is the big teams that benefit from this new mode of transfer.
Near the RTBF, Marc Madiot spoke about these increasingly numerous cases: “What is happening with Maxim Van Gils does not bode well for the future. The arrival of large financial structures is not good for our relations with, what I will call, the traditional sponsors of cycling.” Indeed, a few superpowers have arrived in cycling, led by UAE Team Emirates which benefits from a much higher budget than the majority of teams competing in the World Tour.
Marc Madiot points to two-speed cycling
“Faced with that, we still have a pool of sponsors who have been loyal to cycling for several years, such as the Belgian and French lotteries, Cofidis, Quick Step and others. With the flip of a sleeve, overnight, we can call into question these structures and undermine their loyalty, and that is still very unhealthy”continued Marc Madiot. And to add: “I have nothing against the arrival of major sponsors like Red Bull, UAE or Bahrain but we still have to put a minimum of regulation into all that because the day these big behemoths leave, because they came but can very well leave, what will be left? In the name of money, we sacrifice a lot of values.”
Marc Madiot is therefore worried about the future of cycling and its functioning. If the most financially powerful teams get their hands on cycling, traditional sponsors could eventually tire and stop their sponsorship. This would then be a disaster for cycling and could lead to the disappearance of certain emblematic teams, such as the Groupama-FDJamong others.
The Maxim Van Gils case raises questions
The manager of the Groupama-FDJ added: “We would obviously like to keep our riders but that is not possible. But in general, I find that we are becoming more and more like football, without having the compensations of football. I don't find it very healthy, neither for the team, nor for the rider. No, it’s not good, not good.” Today, a team can train a young rider and lose him at any time with no return on investment. Which can be detrimental for training courses with fewer resources. Marc Madiot also had to let go Lenny Martinez chez Bahrain Victorious.
Referring to the case Maxim Van Gils, Marc Madiot notes that the team Lottery Dstny finds itself in a situation where this rider is essential to them, with a contract already established between the two parties. However, the fact that the latter is considering leaving, whatever the reasons, is seen as a threat to the team's legacy in Belgian cycling. According to him, if Lotto is affected today, another team like Quick Step could be affected tomorrow. Having already been faced with this type of situation, Marc Madiot believes that a fundamental problem persists.
