Frustrated Guillaume Martin felt like he was 'going round in circles' at Cofidis: "I needed a new challenge"

After five seasons at Cofidis, Guillaume Martin has switched to Groupama - FDJ for the 2025 season and beyond. According to the man himself, a fresh start and a new challenge could be exactly what was needed for the 31-year-old Frenchman.

"It's a new adventure, and a return to my roots too, because I was an intern here a little over 10 years ago now. I was an intern at FDJ in 2014," Martin explains in conversation with Cyclism'Actu. "Afterwards, our paths separated for various reasons, but I had been at Cofidis for 5 years and I felt like I was going around in circles a bit; in any case, I needed a new challenge. We spoke, first with Philippe and Julien Pineau, then with Marc Madiot on the phone, and it quickly became obvious that this was the team I needed to be in, in 2025 and for the years to come."

With nine victories on his palmares, Martin has shown moments of brilliance over the course of his career to date. 3rd overall at the Criterium du Dauphine in 2020 and a three-time Top-10 finisher in a Grand Tour, Martin has also showcased his capabilities in a general classification sense. As such, in 2025, Groupama - FDJ have a dual Grand Tour schedule planned for the French star.

"Obviously, when you do two Grand Tours in a season, it will be the same for David Gaudu, you have to plan the rest of the season accordingly. My start to the season will therefore be a little lighter, even if there will be some great races on the program," he says. "But it's certain that the start of the Tour de France will be special for me, because there will be this passage at home in Normandy."

"One after the other, with David, we will be served," he adds in conclusion with a smile. "We have already divided up the stages: 'Stefan Küng wins the time trial in Caen, I win the next day and then David wins at the Mûr de Bretagne!'"