Specialist in time trials and road endurance events, Alexis Gougeard has put his bike away. The Rouen runner takes stock and looks back on his fond career memories.
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“I’m waiting for a response from a team but now I think it’s going to be negative.“Without a contract in 2025 after a difficult season with Cofidis, cyclist Alexis Gougeard feels forced to retire.
His last race was on October 20, 2024 in Italy during the Veneto Classic, finishing in 65th place.th place.
The Norman champion, now 31 years old, has no illusions about the rest of his career and tries to remain stoic. “If they don’t want me anymore, they want me more, now the teams are taking younger and younger riders and we have to accept that.”he observes.
Lack of listening, programs changed at the last moment, the Norman, trained at the USSAPB (Union Sportive Sainte Austreberthe Pavilly Barentin) suffered in his last season, even if he highlights a good understanding with his trainer. “We talked a lot, we tried to find solutions because I wasn’t at the level I should have been.”recognizes the athlete.
In 2010 and 2011, Alexis Gougeard was crowned French junior champion and vice-European junior time trial champion in 2011.
Professional since 2014, the rider has 11 victories in professional pelotons. “I’ve had a great career, I’m happy with what I’ve done, I’ve met lots of people“, he smiles.
On his record, a stage of the Tour of Spain, La Vuelta, in 2015, one of the fondest memories of his career.
-Alexis Gougeard celebrates his victory during the 19th stage of La Vuelta, in Medina del Campo in the province of Valladolid in Spain, September 10, 2015.
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© JAVIER LIZON / EFE
Another beautiful memory, the time trial world championship in Bergen, Norway, despite a twist of fate at the end of the competition.even if I’m a little upset because I was going for a TOP 5 and I derail in the last kilometer and I finish 13th but hey, racing against RogliC and everything… I was happy!”
Even if he didn’t have enough time to play tourist, Alexis Gougeard is delighted to have been able to travel the world thanks to cycling.”Norway is really pretty, the air is pure, it’s very natural, I felt good there, he remembers. At the top of Norway, you kind of feel like you’re at the end of the world, it was pretty cool.“
Runner Normand also cherishes his memories of Australia, “where the weather is always nice” or even from Canada “where people made us feel very welcome”but it was in France that he admired the most beautiful landscapes.
“In the Alps and the Pyrenees when you climb a pass you have a bit of difficulty, but the reward is superb views of lakes.”confides the thirty-year-old, proud of his country. “You don’t have to go very far to find magnificent landscapes”he adds, referring to the Normandy coasts.
Alexis Gougeard, behind the Dutchman Nils Eekhoff in the last kilometers of the Col du Granon in the Alps, landscapes that he appreciates so much, July 13, 2022.
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© LAURENT COUST / MAXPPP
So many landscapes that the Cauchois was able to admire during the three Tours de France in which he participated in 2016, 2019 and 2022. “It was a dream and I managed to do it.”he is satisfied.
Back home in Normandy, Alexis Gougeard recently joined the FC Fréville-Bouville football club and the Montigny La Vaupalière Running Club, attracted by trail running. “Now I want to do sport for fun and have fun with my friends“, he promises himself.
For the moment, he wants to enjoy his loved ones. “J‘I need to be here, to feel surrounded“, he confides, tested by his last months of career. Graduated with a BEP in electrotechnics, Alexis Gougeard does not see himself having a career in the sector.
Today, the almost retired man has found a small job in transport but is not closing any doors, in the sporting world or elsewhere: “I want to try lots of things, I’m curious!“.
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