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Arnaud Démare 'justified', Marc Madiot understands sprinter's backlash: "He's right not to be happy, I understand that"
CyclingWednesday, 14 June 2023 at 15:43
An internal battle within Groupama - FDJ has culminated. The decision of which riders will go to the Tour de France has seen Arnaud Démare out of it, the French team is trying to manage it's leaders but Marc Madiot understands the negative comments from the French sprinter.
"It's normal, it's justified. He's right not to be happy, I understand that. It was complicated, when making the final choice, I only had to take the sporting aspect into consideration, so that the team to be the best possible at the start of the next Tour de France," Madiot said in an interview with Cyclism'Actu. "It was a difficult decision, because I have the greatest respect for Arnaud. I told him, I have absolutely nothing to reproach him for. a few weeks away, Arnaud's participation was still in the pipeline, but the situation at the end of the Giro and the days that followed, with Thibaut Pinot's recovery and state of form, had an influence."
Démare had prepared the season towards the Tour, and recently won the Brussels Cycling Classic. He's struggled early in the season, however as his form was improving the pieces seemed to fit. However that was not the case, David Gaudu had previously expressed doubts on the participation of both Démare and Thibaut Pinot at the Tour, whils the looks to lead the team. However, his recent 30th spot at the Criterium du Dauphiné was far from a good sign for the 26-year old.
"I know these times are difficult, they are even more difficult for you than for me," the manager of Groupama - FDJ told Démare, who has been a pro with the team since turning pro in 2012. "My experience tells me that time will do its work and we will find ways to work together for the next few days and next few weeks, which will allow us to end our common adventure on a high, which I absolutely do not regret."
Gaudu and Pinot will head for the Tour, Madiot reveals the team will put emphasis on the Frenchman's GC goals, whilst the likes of Pinot and Valentin Madouas will chase for wins in the many mountainous and hilly days.
"After reflection, we said to ourselves that we were going to leave for the Tour with a team that can move and enter a race of movement. That's why riders like Valentin Madouas and Thibaut Pinot are very important. This will be everything for the mountains, with people capable of passing the medium and high mountains. It's a bet, it's an option, but it's the one we have retained and chosen," Madiot concluded.
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