“The leaders, we already have them”, Marc Madiot justifies the recruitment of Groupama-FDJ

2023-08-09 13:48:45

By Ed

Posted 1 hour ago, Just Updated

Marc Madiot manager of Groupama-FDJ since 1997 Laurent Lairys / Laurent Lairys / Panoramic

Groupama-FDJ has finally launched its transfer window by formalizing the arrival of three riders. If on paper the names are not familiar, Marc Madiot the manager of the team explained his choices which correspond to the strategy of the team for many years.

The transfer window has also opened its doors in the world of cycling since August 1, if the first transfers have already been formalized in the biggest teams, Groupama-FDJ has been slow to register its first recruits. After a few departures including that of his legendary sprinter Arnaud Démare to the Breton formation Arkéa-Samsic, Marc Madiot’s team was awaiting reinforcements. This Tuesday, three riders were made official: the tricolor climber of Cofidis Rémy Rochas, the cyclo-cross specialist Clément Russo (Arkéa-Samsic) and the former Norwegian champion Sven Erik Bystrom (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty). The three are joining Groupama-FDJ for the next two seasons (2024-2025) and should be destined for team roles to support the young leaders of the team in their respective fields.

In an interview published on his team’s websiteMarc Madiot explained his transfer window: “To put it very simply, they are solid and regular riders to play a team role with our leaders at the highest level, in different registers, for the Classics and the Grand Tours in particular.»
As usual, Madiot will trust his young talents for the coming season, a profitable strategy that he had already put in place with the duo Arnaud Démare / Thibaut Pinot at the time or David Gaudu / Valentin Madouas more recently. With the rise of Leny Martinez and Romain Grégoire, the 64-year-old manager wants to support them for the next few years. “The goal is to continue to believe in what we started to put in place this year, with confirmed leaders who remain and the rise in power of young people who have just arrived: Lenny Martinez, Romain Grégoire, Sam Watson, Paul Penhoët and the others. We had neither the vocation nor the objective of seeking other leaders. The leaders, we already have them!” concluded the former runner.