Boss of Groupama-FDJ, Marc Madiot showed his confidence this Sunday, during the Grandes Gueules du Sport on RMC, in the abilities of French cyclists to shine in 2025 at the highest level.
Marc Madiot is “very optimistic” for French cycling in 2025. Aware that Bernard Hinault risks retaining his status as the last French winner of the Tour de France (in 1985), the manager of Groupama-FDJ however rejects any form of defeatism before to approach the new season.
Hopes especially the classics
“We are not going to win the Tour de France, but David Gaudu can return to the top 5”, took Marc Madiot as an example, even if his leader's program has still not been revealed and could send him further first on the Tour of Italy. “Valentin Madouas or Christophe Laporte can do great things on the classics,” added the boss of Groupama-FDJ about one of his riders and Wout Van Aert’s teammate at Visma-Lease a Bike.
If Romain Bardet will retire next June after the Critérium du Dauphiné, the French tank contains some great promises. “I think we can be very active and very present with all these young French people who are arriving,” said Madiot. “I am convinced that Romain Grégoire (his rider, Editor’s note) will perform at the highest international level,” continued the manager, citing expectations in view of the classics for his protégé. “And then other runners at Decathlon-AG2R will do it. We must not underestimate ourselves.”
During the transfer window, Marc Madiot notably recruited Rémi Cavagna, who remains on a failed experience with the Spanish team Movistar. The rider, who had revealed himself with the Soudal-QuickStep, “was apprehensive about coming to a French team”. “He was very surprised by the quality that we could offer him to perform. I am sure that he will regain his level,” Madiot bet. “Certainly, we have fewer resources but the quality of the work is interesting.”
Lenny Martinez will not necessarily “find much better” at Bahrain-Victorious according to Madiot
In terms of sprinting, Marc Madiot sees Paul Magnier (20 years old) having a good season with Soudal-QuickStep. As for his former rider Lenny Martinez (21 years old), who will be with Bahrain-Victorious in 2025, the manager believes that the climber will not necessarily “find much better” in his new training. “We realize that it is not always better abroad,” judged Madiot.
For his part, after eleven seasons with Soudal-QuickStep, Julian Alaphilippe will experience a new adventure with the Swiss team Tudor. “He has already given a lot. I think he is capable of making brilliant moves again, like on Milan San Remo,” noted Madiot. “On a Tour of Flanders, it seems more complicated to me and on LIège-Bastogne-Liège, with a little success, it can happen. But there is still uncertainty about his presence on the Tour de France since his team does not 'is not yet accepted.”
“It all depends on where we put the cursor,” concluded Marc Madiot more generally. “We can be present, exist and win in the World Tour on a regular basis. It will be very good. Today, cycling is global. There are genetic predispositions. We have them or not. For the moment, they are in Slovenia but that's the magic of sport, that might not be the case after Pogacar.”
