Alexis Gougeard on Cofidis: “Hurtful messages”

Alexis Gougeard had a complicated 2024 season at Cofidis. Photo: Cofidis/Mathilde l’Azou

After a return to amateurs in 2023, Alexis Gougeard relaunched last year with Cofidis who wanted to give him a second wind. A failed bet for the northern team which has still not renewed Norman’s contract, the latter regretting the management of his return to the professionals.

In an interview with the newspaper the Team, Alexis Gougeard (31 years old) spoke about his very complicated year 2024 and spoke of his doubts about the rest of his career. “I had in mind to do more, I still feel capable of it but, unfortunately, it is not me who chooses“, he confided.

Alexis Gougeard: “I was not given confidence by Cofidis”

If the French rider wants to be grateful to the hand extended to him by the team You trustthe latter did not fail to recall the lack of management of his training throughout the 2024 season. “For me, I was not put in the best position. I walk a lot on affect and I was not given confidence, my work was not necessarily recognized and that affected me a little (…) At the last moment, I could be withdrawn from a race because I hadn’t worked on the previous one. To prepare, it’s not easy, you’re never calm”he lamented.

Alexis Gougeard: “Messages that my behavior was irresponsible”

The Norman spoke of his complicated relations with the general manager of the training You trust, Cédric Vasseur. « I tried to call Cédric Vasseur. Because I received messages that my behavior was irresponsible, about my lack of professionalism… Hurtful messages. So I called, but I never had a conversation over the phone or in person. I’m willing to hear that I was doing certain things wrong, but I also had things to say to them. There were never any exchanges other than text messages. It’s a bit limited”declared Gougeard. Turned professional in 2014, Le Français therefore finds himself without a team for this 2025 season…