“It’s full of elements that made me make this decision”: Stéphane Goubert explains the reasons for his departure from Decathlon-AG2R

How did the adventure with AG2R end?

Alright. I thank Decathlon and Dominique Serieys for allowing me to say goodbye to the team and for giving me freedom in my decision. It's never easy. It's my decision. There was a great project.

I had another one for me, I wanted to challenge myself, to discover new working methods, a new environment. And the Groupama-FDJ opportunity presented itself. It fit well with the vision I had and the way I planned for the future. Everything coordinated well.

It all happened pretty quickly, didn't it?

Groupama-FDJ gave me time to really do things well. I didn't have to return on January 1st. But they welcomed me pretty quickly. I discovered a new way of working. Even though I know everyone, these are people I don't know through work.

I had been with my old team for 20 years. I experienced all the phases and all the areas there. I found that I was at a turning point in my life. That's personal.

Was the departure of Vincent Lavenu last year decisive in your decision?

No, it's a long journey. It's full of elements, small details that made me make this decision. That's part of it. But it's not just that. Society is changing. The teams, too.

Given the Decathlon-AG2R season, your success in the Giro and the Vuelta, we could think that you were a good part of this team.

I was fine, no problem. Decathlon-AG2R has a good project. But maybe the fact of having experienced strong emotions in 2024 made me want to start again with other goals. What awaits me is very exciting.

Did you have other opportunities than Groupama-FDJ?

No, I didn't look for others either. There is not a lot of turnover among athletic directors. It's not like in other sports where it's the daily routine, like in football or, to a lesser extent, rugby. In cycling, that doesn't change because there are six or seven sports directors per team. There is no monotonous speech, from a single coach, from the same person.

There, there is a turnover, it is not the same speech, there is no weariness in the message at the level of the runners.

Giro and Tour de France on the menu

How did Groupama-FDJ introduce itself to you?

Messages from a person, at one point, made me say that there was perhaps a possibility at Groupama. Then the opportunity presented itself. I wanted to challenge myself, renew myself, start from a blank page.

Do you already have your return sheet for the season?

Yes. It is clear that it will be focused, without detailing, on the Giro and the Tour de France. Afterwards, there will be quite a few objectives with the climbers. I wasn't asking for anything, I'm pleasantly surprised. If the Giro and the Tour were not on the program, there was zero problem. There are quality boys in this team, I owe them respect. I am here to bring my experience and expertise, but also to receive it from my colleagues. It's an exchange.

When will you make your competitive debut?

I need time to discover the group. Everything really accelerated towards the end of December. You have to give me a little time to find my bearings and get to know everyone to start the first races. It will be the Classic Var and the Tour des Alpes Maritimes, at the end of February.

There is a rivalry between Groupama-FDJ and Decathlon-AG2R. Do you think your choice may have been taken the wrong way?

There is a rivalry, but much less than before. It is not the equivalent of a PSG-OM. Now there are a lot of top teams. All teams are opponents. We are a bit compared to the Champions League. The little Franco-French war exists much less than a few years ago.

Your former colleagues won't glare at you at the next test then?

I keep a lot of friends. I have a lot of affection for runners. Obviously, we will be opponents in the race. But outside, it will remain very friendly.