Cycling: It will be unusual to see the Groupama – FDJ team without Arnaud Démare and Thibaut Pinot. The two Frenchmen are no longer wearing blue. Now the youngsters have to take care of it. Fortunately, there is a lot of quality in the French squad.
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Groupama – FDJ cheers almost only in France
One race in Portugal, one in Switzerland and one in Belgium – this is the Groupama – FDJ team’s victories abroad. A further 16 races were won, but all on home soil. But this only includes a single WorldTour success. Valentin Madouas won the Brittany Classic. Overall, Groupama – FDJ actually only has two victories at WorldTour level. Stefan Kung won the individual time trial at the Tour de Suisse – that was it. This is certainly not a good result for a team that is actually that strong, even if they were particularly successful in the ProTour on home soil. This was allowed, among other things Paul Penhoet happy about the victory at the Tour du Finistere. Romain Gregory won the 4 days of Dunkirk and the Tour du Limousin. Michael Storer triumphed at the Tour de l'Ain and Arnaud Demare took first place at the Brussels Cycling Classic. One of the disappointments of the year David Gaudi. They focused everything on him at the Tour de France. In the end he only finishes ninth in the GC.
2024: Your own youth must now deliver results
The tablecloth between the team and the sprinter was cut when he was not nominated for the Tour de France. Arnaud Demare drew its conclusions from this. He moved to national competitor Arkéa – Samsic during the current season. There Thibaut Pinot ended his career, Groupama – FDJ are missing two figureheads in the coming season. David Gaudu has to find his way back to his old strength and his own youth also have to ensure results now. At the beginning of the year, the sports management recruited seven drivers - all of them incredibly talented. It will be in 2024 Eddy Le Huitouze just be one. In addition to him, six other drivers from other teams have been signed. The experienced Frenchman Marc Sarreau should be used as a sprint driver. countryman Clement Russo and the Brit Matthew Walls could also have been brought in for sprint preparation. Cyril Barthe and Remy Rochas However, they feel more comfortable when the terrain is a little more demanding. Norway Sven Erik Bystrom is considered an all-rounder. We can therefore see that Groupama – FDJ has brought a lot of experience into the team during this transfer period. Together with the young wild ones, they should shape a new era.