January 1, 2023 has already meant a small palace revolution for Groupama-FDJ and the new year continues to ride this momentum. Thibaut Pinot and Arnaud Démare have left the building, the jeunesse is increasingly in command.
Soap writer in France? It’s a dying profession, because with Marc Madiot you have the undisputed king of the platoon of the best French acting with a touch of drama.
In 2023 Madiot was able to have fun once again. It all started early with a verbal and digital war between figurehead Arnaud Démare and Crown Prince David Gaudu.
The two could no longer pass through the same door, Madiot confessed and did not select Démare for the Tour. Before the end of last season, the divorce with the former pet child “Nono” occurred.
To top it off, the second half of 2023 was also dedicated to the farewell of the muse Thibaut Pinot.
From the tribute in his Vosges to the retirement party in Lombardy: Madiot cries with tears now that his sporting adopted son seeks peace with his goats.
Successful spring chickens
Without Démare and Pinot on the payroll, Groupama – FDJ can completely complete the restyling.
The French team is a real gold mine and last year 7 promising players got on the professional train.
Lenny Martinez and Romain Grégoire had the most beautiful letters of nobility and now they have presented themselves to the general public. Talk about a pleasant introduction.
Of course there are still difficulties, but the first glimmers were encouraging and convinced Madiot that he was on the right path.
This also translated into the transfer policy. “I wasn’t looking for a leader,” Madiot said, “because I have enough future attackers in my current team.”
Romain Grégoire achieved his first professional victory at the Four Days of Dunkirk.
The team leader once again played the French card with reinforcements in width and runners willing to sacrifice.
Despite youth violence, the heart of the team remains intact. Stefan Küng, David Gaudu and Valentin Madouas are still the pillars and breathe the French ethic.
Küng will continue to focus – on new material – on time trials and classics, with a particular focus on Paris 2024.
Gaudu opened promisingly at Paris-Nice, but wasn’t up to par in the Tour. Will he continue to believe in his Giallorossi dream or will he have to review his goals?
The Breton will certainly feel the warm breath of Martinez and his teammates on his neck. 2024 could be his last chance at the Tour after Martinez’s promising debut at the Vuelta. The heir to the throne is not yet aiming to enter the Grande Boucle in 2024.
Groupama-FDJ therefore continues to build without acute risk of dredging after a 7th place in the 2023 team ranking.
Although the new era can only be truly successful if Madiot wants to leave behind the characteristics of a typical French team of the past.
If successful, Richard Plugge will undoubtedly be the first to toast with his best colleague.
Lenny Martinez was a red stopper in the past Vuelta.
- The biggest loss: the French are in no danger of remaining without points, but Arnaud Démare is obviously a guarantee of meeting left and right. With Marc Sarreau and Matthew Walls, the quick substitutions are of a lower caliber.
- Striking: the marriage between FDJ and the Lapierre bicycle brand lasted 22 seasons. Next year Wilier Triestina will be the new supplier.
- revelation: with Eddy Le Huitouze (20), the number of U23 riders rises to 10 out of a team of 27. Martinez and Grégoire left their mark, but Laurence Pithie and Paul Penhoët also won straight away as new professionals.
Newcomers Marc Sarreau (Fra) AG2R-Citroën Sven Erik Bystrom (Noo) Intermarché-Circus-Wanty Rémy Rochas (Fra) Cofidis Clément Russo (Fra) Arkéa-Samsic Cyril Barthe (Fra) Burgos-BH Matthew Walls (GBr) Bora-Hansgrohe Eddy Le Huitouze (Fra) Groupama-FDJ Devo Vertrekkers Arnaud Démare (Fra) Arkéa-B&B Thibaut Pinot (Fra) stopped Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) stopped Michael Storer (Aus) Tudor Bram Welten (Ned) DSM-Firmenic PostNL Jake Stewart (GBr ) Israel-Premier Tech Bruno Armirail (women) Decathlon-AG2R Miles Scotson (Aus) Arkéa-B&B
2023-12-30 08:38:55
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