Groupama thrive in Flandres: "I hope to be there again in the coming years" says Madouas

Amongst the best performing teams at yesterday's Tour des Flandres were without a doubt Groupama - FDJ.

After the team had been active in the early moves that forced the peloton to ramp up it's pace towards the first Kwaremont/Paterberg passage, they managed to take Valentin Madouas into a good position towards the Koppenberg where the first crucial move of the race was made. The Frenchman had given great signs in the past on the classics, but this was a different level as he had kept up with eventual race winner Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar.

On the final ascent off the Oude Kwaremont he was dropped, but still within contention for the podium: “Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough legs to follow them. It comes down to details. I probably left too much energy elsewhere during the day... We know for sure that there is a “cat and mouse” game when a victory on a Monument is at stake. This is why we always thought that winning was possible."

The duo reached the front and were in contention for the final sprint, where Madouas grabbed a third spot, getting in the final podium in what is perhaps the biggest result of his career so far: "Given the speed I had when I came back, I really believed for a moment that I could make it, but the legs spoke and they told me to sit down."

The 25-year old had developed as a rider with many talents, but had been guided more towards stage-racing. However, it seems like his ability in the cobbled classics may be superior after this surprising performance: “It is already outstanding to be on the podium on a Monument. This is the first time I manage to be at this level, and I hope to be there again in the coming years.

"There is no victory, but it is an amazing day, one of my most beautiful ones on the bike. I think I’m just beaten by stronger riders. When you make it to the podium, you surely want to come back for victory, and we still need to give Jacky Durand a successor," he concuded.