After a Vuelta encouraging, marked by a stage victory and a leader jersey for David Gauduas well as several top 10 for young people Brieuc Rolland et Thibaud Gruelwithout forgetting the triumph of Romain Grégoire on the Tour of Britaintraining Groupama-FDJ Stay on a very positive dynamic. Between the recent performances of its runners, the list of Thomas Voeckler formalized this Monday for World championships In Kigali, the geopolitical context that plunges cycling into uncertainty about its future, or the 2026 transfer window, Marc Madiotgeneral team manager Groupama-FDJconfided in an interview with Cyclism’Actu On many subjects that make the news.
“David (Gaudu) has shown that with consistency, he can beat the best …”
It's nice to see you again, it's been a while. Before you start, Sunday evening, this improvised podium between runners after what happened in the streets of Madrid, did you like it or not?
Yes, I found it refreshing. The runners and the teams had a good attitude towards the situation. It was a little message: “There was a disturbance, but we are able to assume the rest of the race”. An improvised protocol, but which made sense.
A hotel parking lot for the arrival of a large tour is a bit sticking, right?
No no I found that they took things on the right side.
Your friend Richard Plugge had a great idea after all?
Yes, totally.
What did you think of the Vuelta of your team, notably David Gaudu or young people like Brieuc Rolland or Thibaud Gruel?
There are reasons for satisfaction: a stage victory, a leader jersey, good performances of our young runners. We regret the fall of Guillaume Martin-Guyonnet from the first day, which disabled us a lot to the general. The downside is David (Gaudu) who did not respond in the second part of the race. But overall, the team worked well. David has shown that with consistency, he can beat the best, so we will rely on it for the future.
How do you explain these variations in the form of David Gaudu?
His season was in a sawfall. It is urgent for him to start again on clear and healthy bases during the offseason. His 2026 season is played out now: he must reconnect mentally and physically to be efficient next year.
And news from Guillaume Martin?
Yes, he resumed training and he wants to use. It was a big loss for us, especially in the mountains where his regularity could have given us a beautiful classification.
“Romain Grégoire was not a particularly candidate for the Worlds …”
We are at 13 victories for Groupama-FDJ, a stage and a leader jersey on a large tour. What do you say at this stage of the season?
That there are still races to win! Paris-Tours in particular, which I like to finish on a beautiful note. Then there is the Italian campaign and the chrono of the nations. I'm still waiting for victories.
A runner surprised you, like Romain Grégoire who won the Tour of Great Britain in front of Evenepoel. Isn't that nothing?
Yes, this is a great performance, even if passed a little in the background because of the Vuelta. He is on a good dynamic and we can still expect great results from him, especially on the Tudle on Luxembourg This Wednesday.
Thomas Voeckler announced his selection for Kigali Worlds. You have Valentin Madouas, but not Romain Grégoire. Surprised ?
No, Romain (Grégoire) was not a special candidate. He had Luxembourg and other objectives. It is a choice shared with the coach.
What do you think of this French team?
It reflects the state of the French peloton at the end of the season, with injured and mere -memented runners. Thomas Voeckler did with the means of the moment. We can exist, without being favorites. The conditions (altitude, heat) will be special, but I am serene.
Everyone talks about Paul Seixas. What do you think?
I know him little, but his results, on the tour of the future in particular, show that he has temperament and quality. It will be a discovery for him, useful for the future.
“I respect the demonstrators, but we must also respect the job of runners …”
Let's talk Mercato: you recruit Bastien Tronchon and Clément Berthet d'Ag2r. Satisfied ?
Yes, the transfer window is a story of meetings and means. These two runners can bring a real plus to the team.
Isn't cycling not split between rich teams and others, a two-speed cycling?
Yes, there are two models: behemoths with almost state sponsorship, and traditional sponsorship based on image return. The two coexist, but the future of cycling is at a crossroads, we see it with the Tour of Spain. Questions will ask about the regulation and organization of cycling of tomorrow, both in terms of teams and tests.
Would you like to have the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale budget?
They have means that we do not have. But we are happy and proud of the loyalty of our partners Groupama and FDJ. I am very happy today.
Pogacar offered McNulty victory in Montreal. Lord's gesture?
It was normal in the situation where your name is Tadej Pogacar (laughs). A team logic, sewn with white thread.
UAE already has 85 victories this season, how do you analyze this?
They have 25 potential leaders in their workforce, so it's logical. With three runners in the world top 6, their results are consistent.
You are at 13 victories, against 15 last year …
Yes, but we are in our normal area of evolution. We always hope more, but you have to be realistic in the face of level differences.
Do you still expect other arrivals to the transfer window?
Perhaps, we will see in the coming days. It is not the ideas that are missing (laughs)
Are the demonstrations on the Vuelta worry for the future of cycling?
Cycling is very exposed because it is practiced on the public highway. I respect the demonstrators, whatever their objectives, but we must also respect the profession of runners. You can demonstrate without blocking a race. That there are Palestinian flags on the side of the road does not bother me, but it should not become a permanent means of blocking. Cycling runners do not have to suffer this. Let us respect each other!
Some, like Kwiatkowski, criticized the UCI. What do you think?
Everyone has their opinion, but I prefer to think about how to reconcile freedom of expression and respect for the work of runners.
Your favorite for the Worlds in Kigali? Pugacar already victorious?
Nothing is written in advance, but it is clear that the UAE will have the keys to the race. For a French podium? In the best of cases yes, but we are not on the front line.
