“I’m someone who questions himself a lot” – Promising French talent growing in self-confidence after impressive Tour de France debut in 2025

Paul Penhoët has returned to training with a sharpened mindset and, crucially, a stronger sense of who he wants to be as a rider.

Speaking to Direct Velo, the Groupama - FDJ sprinter reflected on a demanding 2025 season that tested him, reshaped him, and ultimately gave him the confidence that he can rise further.

“I’m someone who questions himself a lot,” he said, reflecting openly on a 2025 campaign that brought eleven top-five finishes but no wins. Instead of letting frustration settle, he sees that constant introspection as fuel, adding that it pushes him “to work even harder and to find all the little details” that can move him up another level.

His reflections aren’t happening in a vacuum — 2024 was partially derailed by a knee injury, delaying the start of his season until May and limiting his sprint and gym work. As he told Direct Velo: “My coach and the medical staff told me that 2025 was a rebuilding year for me. We ‘lost’ a year — I couldn’t do everything I wanted in sprint work and gym work, etc. But it was for my long-term health. I’m grateful to the team for thinking about that.”

With a full calendar finally behind him, he considers the coming season a clean step forward, not more recovery. “There are positives to take away,” he said, noting that 2025 re-established his rhythm. The goal now is to build on that foundation, not start from scratch.

The pivotal moment of his season, and arguably his young career, came in July. His debut at the Tour de France delivered not only respectable results — 7th in Lille, 5th in Chateauroux, 7th in Valence — but also a genuine sense that he belongs at WorldTour level.

“We didn’t really know, neither me nor the team, how I was going to cope with it,” he admitted. But the race unfolded far better than expected, and he came away with confidence rather than exhaustion. “I didn’t finish the Tour completely burnt out.”

His preparation also mattered. Arriving in Lille on the back of a strong French National Championships, he said he hit the race “at my peak of form” and was proud of how fully he committed to helping Romain Gregoire. That commitment, he believes, played a crucial role in carrying his shape deeper into July.

Looking to 2026, the plan is a carefully managed blend of WorldTour fixtures and targeted Europe Tour races. He knows the points system, the level of competition, and the demands of sprinting as well as anyone his age — and he’s not sugar-coating it.

“We’ll need to juggle things well — taking points, let’s be honest, and racing with the best,” he told Direct Velo. He stressed that ProSeries and Class 1 races remain vital parts of his development, saying: “We all know sprinters run a lot on confidence. I think it’s important to continue doing both.”

The end of his 2025 season backed up that approach. His fourth and third-place finishes at the Tour of Guangxi confirmed that his form was coming around at just the right time. And he headed into his break with the mindset of someone hungry for much more.

In his own words, he left for holiday “with the knife between my teeth”, convinced he is edging closer to the breakthrough he’s chasing. “I still have that winning instinct in me. I know it’s possible.”