Groupama - FDJ founder and manager Marc Madiot steps away from his role after 28 years

By this time last year, the news of Patrick Lefevere leaving his role as CEO of Soudal - Quick-Step was very fresh. Now in the winter of 2025 the cycling world loses another one of its most well-known team managers as Marc Madiot will step away from his role with Groupama - FDJ at age 66.

"It was time to recharge, open new doors, and move forward. I'll be 67 in April. I think it's time to look to the future. Now is the time," he said in words to L'Équipe and AFP. Madiot was the man behind the project's creation back in 1997, and was always known for his passionate style on the team car, and just about everywhere else he would present in the cycling world.

Often a critical voice of the changes the sport underwent over the past few years, with extremely high budget creating massive differences between the World Tour teams. In recent years he also played a crucial guiding role to young French climbers such as Thibaut Pinot, David Gaudu and Lenny Martínez.

But Madiot has already left behind a legacy, leading one of the teams that has been in the peloton the longest, and making himself one of the faces of French cycling. “My ambition is for the team to outlive me. "If I can lend a hand in areas other than the sporting side, that suits me just fine. The team is my second child. I love it, I still want to cherish it, but I know it’s growing up and that it’s reached adulthood, that it needs to spread its wings."

But as was the case with Lefevere, he does not fully leave the team, but will only fulfill a minor role as a representative. The leadership of the team will now be in the hands of Thierry Cornec, who confirmed this: "Marc will continue to be involved in development with the partners and will also be the guarantor of the team's values".