"A magical moment that I'll always treasure, but there are great things to come in the next few years" - Valentin Madouas looking to build on Olympic silver in 2025

For Valentin Madouas, it's mostly been a career of close calls so far. Despite adding 7 professional victories to his palmares, a major, career-defining success still proves elusive for the former French national champion.

"Always placed, never a winner. It's up to me to try and turn things around to win," the Groupama - FDJ star admits honestly in conversation with Cyclism'Actu about a career Tour de France career that has consistently seen him threaten a stage victory without reward. "There are also the classics that are close to my heart and then we'll see what my programme is. I don't know yet whether I'll be at the start of the Tour, but we'll look at all that with the team, to see what the best programme will be for me, so that I can do my best in 2025."

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Arguably the biggest result of Madouas' career came earlier this summer, albeit it was another 2nd place. The Frenchman finished best of the rest behind a rampant Remco Evenepoel in the men's road race at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, securing himself a famous Olympic silver medal. "It's a great moment in my career, it was fabulous, especially in Paris. It's the big moment of my year 2024 and it's true that I'll remember it," he recalls. "Paris 2024... You quickly realise that when everyone talks about it, but for me it's not an end in itself. It was a magical moment that I'll always treasure, but there are great things to come in the next few years."

Madouas (L) on the Olympic podium alongside Remco Evenepoel (M) & Christophe Laporte (R)

Whilst the Olympics were a definite highlight, Madouas isn't totally enthused by his 2024 season. "It was an average, mixed season," he explains. "A big result at the Olympic Games, some good classics, but a big performance was missing to be able to do perfect classics, always in the top 9, top 7, so good classics but a big result was missing. I hope that next year, I'll be able to get the result I'm missing to have a great year."

Nevertheless, it is with optimism that Madouas enters the 2025 season. "I'm still the same, it's just that I've gained more experience and maturity too, I know myself very well and better than when I was a pro and I really enjoy understanding how my body works and reacts to each event," he concludes. "I think that's an advantage I'm starting to have, now that I've reached physical maturity."

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