Arkéa's DS departure "not related to Quintana", he confirms

Arkéa Samsic are having big changes towards 2023, with a promotion to World Tour level imminent, the departure of their main leader Nairo Quintana, but also of team DS Yvon Ledanois.

In an interview with Ouest France, Ledanois said: “Since the Vuelta a España, I have not spoken to Quintana. I’m leaving Arkéa-Samsic with my head held high, it’s not related to Quintana.” Rumours had been said that the departure would be related to the Colombian, but Ledanois has repeatedly said that is not the case.

“This has nothing to do with him. And you know, I was not Quintana’s friend. I was sports director of Arkéa-Samsic, not of Quintana. He’s done races where I wasn’t sporting director, I’ve done plenty of them without him," he continued.

“Since he left the Vuelta, I haven’t had a phone call from him and I didn’t try to get it. I work on affection, but today I have more affection with a Laurent Pichon than for a Nairo Quintana. I didn’t make him come to the team, I didn’t make him leave, and he’s not the one making me leave," he stated.

The declarations have left it clear that Ledanois is leaving the team through different reasons. Quintana had struck another three-year deal with Arkéa, but following a double-positive case for tramadol at the Tour de France - which nullified his results at the race - the two have split ways, and the Colombian did not race with the French team ever since, focusing on his defense in the meantime.

“I don’t want to work with him and I do not know where he will go," the former DS of the French team added. Of course I’m disappointed, but the first person he would be hurt was Emmanuel Hubert, then the team, his teammates, and then the staff. He had the confidence of everyone."

“If it turns out that he was at fault, it’s a shame. Also, an investigation is underway, and I am careful not to comment. As a human, I would have liked to have a phone call from him, which I never got. But hey, I never expect anything from a rider," he added.

With his goal accomplished, Ledanois explained his path through Arkéa. “I like challenges, I like the pressure of the goal. Five years ago, few people thought Arkéa could go to the WorldTour. I remember, when I arrived, I said that the days of attacking at kilometer zero were over. Some were surprised, it was not easy to explain how I worked. Sometimes I am tough, very tough, but today I think I brought something to this team. In the end, five years later, the results prove me right," he argued. 

Although he's stepped away from his role, he will not step away from cycling, and is looking for a management role within another team, and a new challenge. “I have enough experience. I have led high-level riders, I think I have the ability to win the Tour. I have proposals that I like, I’m not afraid of tomorrow, and I like to take risks in life," he concluded.