"I've been waiting for years to be champion of France, it's a dream for me" - Valentin Madouas takes career defining win at National Championships
Cycling
Valentin Madouas is the new wearer of the French tricolor jersey. The Groupama - FDJ rider took the biggest win of his career to date at the French National Championships on Sunday.
"I already want to thank all my teammates, the staff, the mechanics... I'm the one who will wear the shirt for a whole year, but it's really thanks to them. Everyone did a wonderful job," the 26-year-old said post-race. "I've been waiting for years to be champion of France, it's a dream for me."
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Madouas was a comfortable winner as the sun beat down on the riders, eventually finishing 1:49 ahead of his teammate in second place, Rudy Molard. "I had already done it as an amateur," Madouas continues, referencing his victory in 2016. "But to do it with the pros..."
"Since I knew the course was here, I only thought of this Championship. I had told all my family to come because I felt good, and to win like that in front of everyone," he concludes. "I have no words. We had an extraordinary race with the team."
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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