"I don't think anything, nothing at all" - Marc Madiot has no time for Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard's season openers
Cycling
Marc Madiot remains one of the most influential figures in
French cycling. As the boss of Groupama - FDJ, he recently spoke to Cyclism’Actu
about his team’s start to the season, the dominance of Tadej Pogacar and Jonas
Vingegaard, and the inconsistencies of the UCI.
Assessing his team’s performance so far in 2025, Madiot
acknowledged that the early months of the season are about building momentum.
"It's the start-up, there are riders who have not yet
raced very much. So we are getting into position and we are going to focus on
the events that are coming up from next weekend, with the opening in Belgium,
plus the Drôme-Ardèche, and then Italy which will arrive very quickly with the
Strade, Tirreno and Paris-Nice.
“So all this means that the month of February has been quite
full, with a lot of races that have followed one after the other. And we have
not necessarily raced too much, nor raced much for some of our riders. So we
were in the phase of getting into orbit, if I may say so."
He emphasised the importance of securing an early-season
win, noting the psychological benefits of getting off the mark so quickly.
"You always have to win quickly at the start of the
season, the first one is important. Psychologically, it opens the results
counter for the team. And we know today with the importance of social networks
that we are quickly categorized as the team that has not won. 'It's been 300 or
400 days or 300 days since we won.
“They haven't won since such and such a date. The other
teams have won...' There is always such and such a team that has not yet won a
game. So we know that there is a significant psychological aspect to the
opening score. And for me, the opening score is always something
important."
The team has been in solid form, but a crash for David Gaudu
disrupted his campaign. Meanwhile, Romain Grégoire has impressed, particularly
in the time trial at the Volta ao Algarve.
"Season after season, I like it when we win quickly
enough to be at peace on that side. And then, we had a good run with David.
Unfortunately, he crashed. He couldn't defend his chances in last weekend's
events. Now, that's part of the hazards. I hope we'll see him back in
competition very soon.
“And then, there's also a great comeback for Romain Grégoire
who performed particularly well yesterday in the time trial in Algarve. So I'm
also hoping for great things this weekend in Belgium and Drôme-Ardèche. So
that's it, the team is on its way. And now, we have to put results and
victories into practice."
Madiot praised Grégoire’s development and sees him reaching
new heights.
"I think Romain has reached a new level psychologically
and physically. We feel that he has reached a new level. So the idea is to make
it happen and continue to seek the great and beautiful results that we hope for
him."
One of the team’s key new signings, Guillaume
Martin-Guyonnet, is expected to bring strength to Groupama-FDJ, particularly in
longer and more demanding races.
"He should have been with David Gaudu this weekend. We
feel that he will bring something more to Groupama-FDJ this year. He is a
long-distance runner. We know that with him, on long and difficult races, and
complicated stage sequences, he can express himself and compete with the best.
I hope that it will go well and that he will string together some great and
good performances in the coming weeks."
Looking ahead to the Flemish Classics, Madiot is realistic
about the competition his team faces, particularly given the presence of Pogačar
in the one-day races.
"To be able to win, you already have to be consistent
and be regular in your level of performance. So I expect a good level of
performance and a good average level over all of these races with all of our
riders who will be doing the Flemish campaign.
“And then afterwards, we know that victory will be difficult
to get because when we see the Pogacars who are registering for the Flemish
races, it increases the difficulty. We know that there is a very high level of
performance among some riders, but we can exist and I hope that we will be
operational to be regularly in the match with the greatest."
However, he insists that Pogacar’s plans are not his concern.
"I don't think anything, nothing at all. This is not my
subject. My subject is my riders. I take care of mine to make sure they are at
the start of the races. Afterwards, the participation of some or others in the
upcoming races is not my responsibility. I look at the list of starters the day
before the event and then we deal with it."
Asked whether he was more impressed by Pogacar or
Vingegaard’s early-season performances, Madiot simply stated:
"No, not particularly. They are where we expected them
to be, where we assumed they would be."
As for when Groupama-FDJ will claim their next victory, he
remains cautious.
"I will not try to answer you. The sooner the better,
regardless of the location. I am not in a position to tell you this or that
place. We are going there to win. Let us be reasonable and modest. Victory does
not depend only on us. So, we will try to be operational to put ourselves in a
position to win. But I am unable to tell you at what time and where it will
be."
Recruitment, he says, should not be judged too soon into the
season.
"Listen, recruitment is not evaluated, as for all those
who are present in the team, is not evaluated with only a few weeks of racing.
They have 5-6 days of racing on average. So, we are not going to stop at 5-6
days of racing to make a value judgment on the performances of each other. We
will let the season progress quietly and there will always be time to talk
about it again in a few weeks."
Madiot also addressed the controversy surrounding Stage 1 of
the Volta ao Algarve, where most of the peloton took a wrong turn, leading to
the stage classification being annulled.
"I can answer you already on Algarve. I can answer you
on Algarve. I'm sorry, but the riders, in the hours before the start of the
race, have access to the roadbook, distributed by the sports directors. For
many riders, there was even a reconnaissance of the finish, carried out in
training the day before.
“For those who had not done it, it was the same finish as in
previous years. So, if you add to that the viewing of the finish sites in video
with the riders during the briefings in all the teams, we are supposed to think
that the riders are not taking the wrong route."
He was critical of the decision to annul the results and
argued that those who followed the correct course should have been awarded
their positions.
"These riders did the right course, had the right
feeling about how the race was going, so I don't understand why we didn't keep
this ranking, even if it was made easier by the fact that a large part of the
peloton made a mistake. But if there had only been two or three riders who had
made a mistake, we would have kept the ranking.
Read also
“So I don't really understand what happened at the
commissaires' level, because once again, the riders are supposed to know the
course. And there are people who did the right course. There were no particular
difficulties in the final part of the race, so I have trouble understanding why
the results of the race were cancelled.
“It doesn't make sense. Several of us asked ourselves the
question and I think it's legitimate, because indeed... It depends. The problem
is that we have a variable geometry application of the regulations. And it's
still a bit of a shame."
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
claps 2visitors 2
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- This is a really interesting idea, which, if well prepared could even be very successful. Very little money needs to be involved for a first season and any success could lead to rapid interest from sponsors.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Hmmm, you seem to have a very convenient black and white view of things. Perhaps you haven’t been around much to discover how complex problems can become over time with people who know how to control, manipulate (or worse) others so gradually or subtly that you arrive at an irresolvable situation before you realise. This is how many inconveniences get introduced to the young, naïve, passionate or “desperate”, knowing they are not armed, protected or strong enough to defend themselves once it’s too late. Why do you think omerta culture is so widespread, why do you think so many people continue to go through so many awful things in life that others can’t understand anyone getting into? Life may be far more jolly for you but you would do well to understand (or reflect more on) the real world to refrain from being so quick to criticise those in a hard spot that may have genuine reason for speaking out.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Seriously do you think when somebody gets into a serious accident, the ambulance is called by the hurt person?🤦 there is always a buddy system in place for a risky job. police , firefighters etc so that if someone gets hurt, the other call that in.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
Loading
2 Comments