"I’m getting closer to the top level" – Romain Grégoire outlines his ambitions for 2026

Romain Grégoire's 2025 season was the best of his still short career, with six victories and impressive performances, mostly in punchy terrains. The 22-year-old even got one World Tour win (the first stage of the Tour de Suisse), and is looking to take a step forward in 2026.

His first win of the season came quickly, as he beat everyone else at the one day race Faun-Ardèche Classic at the beginning of May. He also accumulated several top 5 in big races such as Tirreno - Adriatico and Itzulia before the aforementioned victory in Suisse.

Grégoire was not far from victory at the Tour, but he couldn't raise his arms there. After a rest period, he came back to competition in September, and that was his best month of the year, as he won 4 times: a stage and the overall GC of the Tour of Britain and two stages of the Tour de Luxembourg.

After a busy season, the French talent attended the third Vélo d’Or ceremony on Friday in Paris, where Tadej Pogacar and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot won Velo d'Or awards as the best riders of the year, while Kevin Vauquelin claimed the Bernard Hinault Trophy as the best French road rider of 2025. After the ceremony, Grégoire gave an interview to Cyclism Actu.

Grégoire admitted that he still has room for improvement, but he is confident he can get even better next year. “I’m getting closer to the top level, but I still need to work if I want to reach it. I’m missing a small step. The goal is to work well this winter to progress again, close that small gap with the very best and finally take that big victory I’m waiting for,” he said.

While his 2026 race schedule is not yet finalised, Grégoire expects his first major objectives to come in the Ardennes. “Yes, certainly. We haven’t set the exact structure of the season yet. We’re meeting in Spain tomorrow with the staff and the sports directors to discuss it. But yes, the Ardennes will surely be the first big goal of the year,” he explained.

Asked whether the Bernard Hinault Trophy is one of his long-term ambitions, Grégoire framed it more as a consequence than a target. “Yes, but I see it more as a reward for the season than an objective in itself. To aim for it, you need to be consistent and win big races. So I’ll work in that direction.”

He also reflected on the rise of a strong new French generation (Paul Magnier, Paul Seixas and Kevin Vauquelin to name a few), arguing that internal competition pushes everyone forward. “There are many riders coming through. It’s good, it drags all of us upward and we progress together.”

The Groupama-FDJ rider also welcomed his team’s new kit for 2026. “New kit, new year: it gives fresh momentum to the whole team. We’ll be happy to wear it and we hope to make it shine. When you’ve worn the same one for several years, starting a new cycle feels good and motivates everyone.”

Looking ahead, Grégoire kept his ambitions simple: to win. “To have as many victories as possible. That’s really my number one objective: winning, no matter the races,” he concluded.