Fabien Le Floc'h, Media365: published on Sunday December 29, 2024 at 3:43 p.m.
Groupama-FDJ manager Marc Madiot was resolutely optimistic this Sunday about the chances of French cyclists being able to shine in 2025 at the highest level.
The start of 2025 is not far away and with it, the start of the professional cycling season. While the riders and teams are fine-tuning their preparation for the sun, Groupama-FDJ manager Marc Madiot, who recruited Rémi Cavagna this winter, took the time to speak on RMC to talk about the year to come. And, surprise, he was rather confident about the abilities of French cyclists to shine in 2025 at the highest level. Even if he immediately rules out a French victory during the Tour de France, Madiot believes in particular that “David Gaudu can return to the top 5”while its leader finished in a disappointing 65th place in 2024.
“We must not underestimate ourselves”
Marc Madiot also thinks that another of his protégés, Valentin Madouas, “can do great things on the classics”, also citing Visma-Lease a Bike rider Christophe Laporte. “I think we can be very active and very present with all these young French people who are arrivingMadiot continued on RMC. I am convinced that Romain Grégoire (also at Groupama-FDJ, editor's note) will perform at the highest international level. And then other runners at Decathlon-AG2R will do it. We must not underestimate ourselves. »
The manager of Groupama-FDJ did not hesitate to slip a little comment to his former rider Lenny Martinez, who left for Bahrain-Victorious, believing that the climber will not necessarily “find much better” in his new training. “It all depends on where we put the cursor. We can be present, exist and win in the World Tour on a regular basis. It will be very good, he assured in conclusion. Today, cycling is global. There are genetic predispositions. We have them or not. For the moment, they are in Slovenia but that is the magic of sport, that may not be the case after Pogacar. »
