"I'm not part of their plans, I don't understand why" - Former French champion perplexed after being at home for the Tour de France

Groupama - FDJ are in a moment of transition in the team. David Gaudu has been left out of the Tour de France team amidst his inconsistent season but he was not the only notable absence from the team's Grand Boucle plans: Valentin Madouas was also left out, and the 29-year old did not take the news fondly.

"It was Yvon Caër who called me on Monday morning to tell me. The general manager then explained to me that it was a strategic choice, that they preferred riders other than me," Madouas shared with La Télégramme. The decision came as a surprise, as Madouas had planned, and has the credentials to be part of the team's lineup in its most important race of the year.

A proven classics specialist, he fit well in the team's ambitions to pursue a stage win, and would be one of their best cards. "My physical condition had nothing to do with it. I'm not part of their plans, I don't understand why. It was certainly a thoughtful decision."

Madouas turned pro with the French team back in 2018 and has remained loyal to it throughout his entire career. There have been rumours this year of his departure from the team, as his contract is coming to an end and his career hitting a plateau. At age 29, he could well re-find himself in a new team, with Grouapama now putting priority in its new classics leader Romain Grégoire who will be headlining the Tour team.

It is not the first time the Frenchman finds issues within the team, as in January he was honest about serious problems in the team just under 12 months ago: "With the staff, there were lots of misunderstandings between the different departments: training, medical, the sports directors," he said at the time.

"After the Tour de France, we cleared the air. That did a huge amount of good for everyone. We are starting again with a completely different dynamic."

Madouas is a rider that has not achieved meaningful results this season, but a 16th place at the Tour of Flanders show that he remains competitive even in the toughest of races. The Frenchman has not had an easy year and a half, where he couldn't capitalize on the momentum of a wonder 2023 and 2024 seasons.

In 2023 Madouas was French national champion, won the Bretagne Classic in the nation's national champion jersey and was also second at Strade Bianche. In 2024 he once again lit up the hearts of the French crowd, racing to second at the Paris Olympic Games, and carrying the home nation's hopes of a victory. A specialist in long and explosive races, he could have chances to strike at this Tour and revive his career.

The lineup for Groupama, besides Grégoire - the new French champion - is based widely on its climbers and other classics specialists. Guillaume Martin, Clément Berthet and Clément Braz Afonso will focus on the mountainous days whilst Ewen Costiou and Quentin Pacher are also cards to play in the three-week race.