Cycling: Reliable as a Swiss clockwork - that's how the Team Groupama - FDJ should ensure victories in the coming season. For this, the French team has committed two more Swiss. Can Thibaut Pinot finally convince again at the Tour de France?
Groupama - FDJ 2018: Pinot and Démare were the flagship again
The Groupama – FDJ team doesn't seem to have changed much in the last few years. Why, one wonders, if it works so well? With Arnaud Demare in the sprint and Thibaut Pinot in the mountains, the French team covers the most important areas. 14 of the 33 victories of the season in 2018 went to these two captains. Almost all other successes came about through breakaway attempts. The Austrian too Georg preidler was finally able to celebrate in 2018. With his Stage win at the Tour de Pologne he celebrated his greatest success to date. The 25 year old Marc Sarreau also seems to be developing into a good sprinter and giving Groupama – FDJ more opportunities.
Transfers: 3x BMC for Groupama – FDJ
Whenever a team breaks up or doesn't find a new sponsor for a long time, the other teams can help themselves. At Groupama - FDJ, they looked particularly closely at Team BMC in this year's transfer period. Three drivers from the Swiss racing team have been signed for the new season. Next to the Australian Miles Scotson the two Swiss change Kilian Frankiny and Stefan Kung to Groupama – FDJ. There they now form the Confederate Quartet together with Steve Morabito and Sébastien Reichenbach. Thibaut Pinot in particular should benefit from this. While Kilian Frankiny will be a first-class helper in the mountains, Stefan Küng should ensure better results in team time trials. Quite apart from that, the two newcomers can also achieve success themselves. The exits, on the other hand, will hurt Thibaut Pinot less. With Davide Cimolai a sprinter leaves the team. The French Jeremy Roy and Arthur Vichot weren't much help anyway. The last-named would like to bring in their own results with the second division, Vital Concept – B&B Hotels.
departures | Additions | |
---|---|---|
Arthur Vichot (Vital Concept - B&B Hotels) | Stefan Kung (BMC) | |
Davide Cimolai (Israel Cycling Academy) | Kilian Frankiny (BMC) | |
Jeremy Roy (end of career) | Miles Scotson (BMC) |
Groupama - FDJ 2019: Pinot finally wants to convince again at the Tour de France
The Tour de France is the measure of all things - especially for the French teams. Since it is very bitter that the leader Thibaut Pinot has never arrived in Paris in the past three years. In 2018 he even had to cancel the start because of his illness at the Giro d'Italia. Therefore, the strong climber is betting everything on the Tour de France in 2019. It can be assumed that a strong team will be nominated around him. But also Arnaud Demare would like to have his helpers with him. So far, these two claims have never been a problem in the team. That shouldn't change in the coming season either. At Groupama - FDJ, all drivers have always had their chances - they just have to use them. We don't know how many more chances Thibaut Pinot will have to finally land on the podium again at the Tour de France after 2014. However, we strongly assume that he and the Team Groupama - FDJ 2019 are to be reckoned with - and not only at the Tour de France.
En 2018, l'Equipe @GroupamaFDJ a gagné 33 courses with 13 courses different 💪
Merci et bravo à tous nos coureurs, qu'ils aient levé les bras ou contribué à le faire 🙌 pic.twitter.com/QDEVpFRXPN
— Équipe Cycliste Groupama-FDJ (@GroupamaFDJ) 20 November 2018
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