“We are in danger” says Madiot on a controversial technique used by Pogacar and Vingegaard

This is the controversy of the moment in the world of Cycling. In recent months, three teams have admitted to having resorted to the use of carbon monoxide. The runners inhaled the substance after training at altitude, according to them to know their performance in these conditions. However, it is currently unclear whether such techniques can improve athletes' performance. In this context, the UCI asked the World Anti-Doping Agency to comment on this measure and urges it to be abandoned. On the set of RMCMarc Madiot went further. For the boss of Groupama-FDJ, the peloton must act quickly before this becomes widespread: « Yes we are in danger, all for one simple reason. It will take another five to ten years to resolve this matter, while the WADA, the UCI and the tests are put in place. Here we are talking about three teams who use or have used this equipment. I'm telling you that from three teams we will go to five six seven, then ten, then fifteen, then 90% of the peloton. I have no intention of using it at all and I'm going to tell you what we need to do and that's the message I sent to the president of the UCI. The situation is very simple, we are in this world of cycling with 25 teams who make up 100% of the major world calendar. One simple thing is that we, the team bosses, undertake in writing and on our honor not to use this method, whether it is good or bad, whether it brings a benefit or not, we don't care. We undertake not to purchase this equipment and not to use it. »

“No one in my team will use this equipment”

For the former Paris-Roubaix winner, teams must commit in writing not to resort to such methods. In any case, he undertakes not to use it: “We take a paper, we take a pencil, or we do it vocally to assert ourselves. I tell you, in my team, no one will use this equipment. I invite my team colleagues to have the same attitude. If the 25 bosses of the biggest teams in the world say “we don’t use this method”, we won’t use this method. If we stay in the “maybe yes, maybe no, we have to test” in five years we are still there, we are weighed down and we are dead. » A strong decision from the director.

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