It should have waited a little longer but it had become inevitable. Karl Sagnier (17 years old) and Jean Groussin (16 years old), the two most promising male runners in the department, have just left VC Controis and Team Vallée du Cher 41 respectively.
For the 2025 season, they will both join Argenteuil Val de Seine Cyclisme 95, as the Val-d'Oise club made official this weekend.
The disappearance of U19 Indre Fenioux changed everything
However, joining this team was not the initial plan for Karl Sagnier – author of a solid first season crowned with several successes among juniors and assured of turning pro in the Groupama-FDJ reserve on 1is January 2026 -, and for Jean Groussin – credited with a great end to the season during his second year as a cadet with a success in a round of the Madiot Trophy in Laval and a recent French champion title in the individual pursuit on the track.
This departure from Loir-et-Cher was in fact decided in mid-September, when the disappearance of U19 Indre Fenioux was recorded. Because this training taking part in great French and international races and bringing together the best runners from the Indre clubs allowed a few others from neighboring departments to be part of the adventure while remaining in their club.
This is what allowed Karl Sagnier to stay at Contres during his first junior year: “And this is what was still planned for the 2025 season even if the managers understood well”he assures. A path that Jean Groussin also wanted to follow, who “wanted to stay” in the club of the communes of Saint-Aignan and Selles-sur-Cher. But the two runners had to find a new base “to continue to evolve”as the latter says.
“The best French U19 team”
“If we remove the two junior structures from professional teams (Groupama-FDJ of which he is a part and Décathlon-AG2R)Argenteuil is the best French U19 team. She was already interested and offered a great calendar so it's perfect for me. I'm also going to meet up with Jean, who I knew for a year when I was at Pôle France, a great guy, honest, from whom I'll be able to learn things.”resumes Karl Sagnier, who returned to training this Monday, November 25 after three weeks of a saving break following a season with more than sixty days of racing.
Moreover, the one who will pass his general baccalaureate this year with the Cned, at home in Saint-Romain-sur-Cher, does not intend to burn out before the big jump to the pros: “Everything is well structured between Argenteuil and Groupama-FDJ where my coach Yann Le Boudec now works: the idea is to make a more qualitative program than last season. And it will start with France on the track with the elites in January. »
“It will help me progress”
A season which will also begin on the Loudéac velodrome from January 3 to 5 for Jean Groussin, still a high school student and member of the Pôle France in Bourges, who should also pair up on the American with his one year older. “It’s great to find Karl again with whom I get along well”indicates Jean, who for his part caught the eye of the Val-d'Oise structure only during his recent title accompanied by a record in the pursuit.
“They contacted me after France and it's great to be in such a good team, often on two fronts every weekend, which allows you to learn, to work for the teammates but also to have your chance. It will therefore help me to progress while my goal is also to go to the France team. »
