“Cycling has become a sport for the rich! », alerts Marc Madiot, former president of the League

In a few weeks, sports federations in France will have elections to elect their presidents. At the French Cycling Federation, Michel Callot is representing himself and will have only one candidate in front of him, Teodoro Bartuccio, director of Paris Cycliste Olympique. Marc Madiot, the manager of Groupama-FDJ professional training, supports him in the hope of creating a little more democracy within the federal body.

What is your view on French cycling and its governing bodies?

We see problems of representation across the federations in all sports in France, and particularly in football. I made the observation with certain rugby people. We have been active in our sports for decades and we have never had a ballot in our hands to participate in the election of a president. By regulation I can’t have one.

I have nothing against the people who are currently in office, but a little democracy wouldn’t hurt. The system is no longer up to date. Democracy must live in the governance of sport, but it no longer lives. Elections today are becoming more or less parodies. During the last federal elections to the French Cycling Federation (FFC), Michel Callot beat Cyrille Guimard with a score of 96% to 4%. Whether you like Guimard or not, he still represents something in cycling.