Rudy Molard targeting French National Championship victory in 2023 - "Wearing the tricolour jersey would be a dream for me"

Groupama-FDJ's Rudy Molard is looking to build on a successful 2022, highlighted by his capturing of the Red Jersey on stage 5 of the Vuelta a Espana for the 2nd time in his career, with his main goal being to win the French National Championships.

The 33-year-old has never before donned the famous tricolour jersey, coming closest in 2021 when Molard finished 2nd in the national road race. "I absolutely want to arrive in good shape on the championship of France," Molard tells Le Patriote. "Wearing the blue-white-red jersey would be a dream for me and I never managed to impose myself on this race. I really hope to do better than 2nd."

With David Gaudu and Thibaut Pinot the two undisputed GC leaders for Groupama-FDJ, Molard is more often than not used as a trusty lieutenant in Grand Tours, his best finish being 14th at the 2018 Vuelta a Espana. His expected three-week stage race this year will be the Giro d'Italia, however as Molard admits himself, nothing is certain as of yet.

"We still haven't decided on my calendar with the team but I have several objectives in mind," the Frenchman explains. "First of all, I would like to position myself for the Giro in April. It's a race that I like and which doesn't take too long into the season because it happens quickly. I'm starting to get used to the Grand Tours and I would really like to participate."