Dorian Godon crowned French champion after emotional win: “I was carried by the public”

Dorian Godon claimed the 2025 French National Road Race Championship in a tight finish against Kevin Vauquelin and Romain Grégoire, securing the tricolour jersey after a dramatic and emotional day in Normandy. The Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team rider produced a measured performance on the final climb before launching his sprint in the headwind to secure the biggest win of his career.

“When Romain Grégoire was next to me, I couldn't see very clearly,” he told Cyclism’Actu after the finish. “I was carried by the public, by my girlfriend, she's been saying for a year that I'm going to be French champion here, she believed in me.”

Godon revealed he had been suffering from an ear infection during the week but woke up on race day feeling renewed confidence. “Since yesterday I was much better, so all the lights were green for the race,” he said.

The final ascent saw coordinated teamwork and strategic pacing from the Decathlon AG2R squad. “I really wanted to smooth out the first part of the climb, after that there was some flat, we communicated well,” Godon explained. “Paul Seixas did a great job, he took his time well so that I could breathe. Nico, I told him to go full throttle but he went off... full throttle (laughs), so I was a little 10 m behind. I looked a little behind and there was a bit of a headwind so I wanted to wait until the last moment.”

“The whole team did a great job, we made the right decisions at the right time,” he said. “I would have preferred to be in front with the group of 37, but we had 3 young people ride and we were able to get back thanks to them, and then the race started again.”

From the opening circuits, Godon had a sense it could be his day. “It's silly to say but I knew I was going to get a very good result today from the first lap,” he said. “I really had a great day. I'm just happy, I'm going to go on vacation happy.”