We couldn't conclude this Tour de France 2025 sans Marc Madiot ! The general team manager Groupama-FDJ has taken stock of this 112nd edition Sunday evening at our microphone and reviewed many subjects with its usual outspokenness: the Tour of his team, which leaves empty -handed and without victories as since 2019 despite the good performances of a Romain Grégoire (3 top 5) unlucky on Saturday, the 4th coronation of Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and the domination of Slovenian, the unprecedented circuit of Champs-Élysées passing by Montmartre and the superb victory of Wout van Aert (Visma | lease a bike), the rest of the season … The 66 -year -old Mayennais leader had things to say during this interview as always without filter.
Marc, if I tell you that we are at the arrival of the Tour de France 2025 and that your team was not varnished, do we agree or not?
We agree. Especially since yesterday, we were the victim of a fall when we played the winning of the stage, so it is frustrating, disappointing, but it is the race.
No victory since 2019, is it annoying? What is the feeling?
No. When you go fourth in the tour with Gaudu or ninth, these are still interesting balance sheets. It's a bit easy and reducing to summarize our Tour to zero stage victory since 2019.
You inevitably know those who criticize. What do you answer them?
I don't answer them anything. We draw our path, we build, we develop, and we try to be as efficient as possible with our means.
Tadej Pogacar, fourth Tour de France. Normal ?
It was the best, strongest, most complete. It is not illogical that he is the winner.
When we hear the criticisms of the past few days, does it annoy?
No. I saw fifteen days of attractive, punchy, sexy, exciting tour. The last week was more in control, moderation, but it was logical given the classification.
It is not an exceptional vintage, but a good vintage. It could have been if the intensity had lasted all the last week. But we cannot ask the impossible from the runners, and that's better.
And now ? The rest for Groupama-FDJ?
The Tour of Spain. With ambitions for Gaudu, Martin, Küng, Gruel and others. I hope we will make a big tour of Spain.
David Gaudu, his resurrection in 2024 marked. Does he go back to the right rails?
Yes. I have good feedback from his internships right now. It was a good decision not to put it on the tour this year, to give it time to rebuild itself and regain confidence and serenity.
What did you miss on this tower?
A little success, especially yesterday (Saturday). But on the decisive stages, we had Romain Grégoire. He is still in development, he is 22 years old. When you are facing Pogacar or Van der Poel, it still lacks a little notch. But he is taking it, progressing. You have to keep the course.
What image do you keep of this 2025 Tour de France?
The last: Wout van Aert. I have great admiration for this runner. He is in permanent opposition with Van der Poel to whom everything succeeds. He was able to rebuild himself, to redevelop himself, to go back to combat, he returns from difficult times. And that he wins today on the fields, with this somewhat special step, it is a sign of destiny. I am in admiration.
Like a happy coincidence, a year ago, another Belgian won here, a certain Remco Evenepoel …
Yes, but frankly, what I experienced this afternoon … There was a little “circus” side that I do not like, but also the victory of what cycling is intrinsically: selflessness, determination, experience, commitment. And what we lived today (Sunday) with Wout Van Aert is to meditate.
You talk about the “bet” tempted by ASO. What did you like or displeased?
What I liked was Van Aert. What displeased me was the risk -taking side. We play with fire. And you shouldn't play too much with fire.
With experience, do you put some years without great results?
Yes. The result of the tour depends on us, but not only on us. There are racing circumstances and adversity. You have to stay objective, whether it goes well or not, and find balances.
Is this a good vintage, this 2025 tour?
Yes, a good vintage. Not an exceptional vintage. It would have been if Vingegaard could have been in more frank opposition with Pogacar. But that was not the case. We had 15 thrilling days. If it had lasted on the same pace, I would have told you “exceptional raw”. But this is not the case.
We saw more spectacle on the so -called “transition” and rugged stages …
This is not new. A less difficult step allows more people to express themselves. You have to keep a good balance: backpackers, medium mountain, time, sprints. It takes for everyone.
Pogacar, fourth round at 26 years old. Will he go beyond the legends that have 5 Tour de France?
If we trust the present situation, we want to say that yes, that it will be easy and easy to realize. But beware of time, habit, relaxation. Nothing is acquired in advance. Remember, in the past, we had predicted many victories to certain runners: Jan Ullrich, to whom we predicted several victories, won only one. So: observation and prudence, this is the right word.
