"The anger is always present, as is the incomprehension" - Arnaud Démare still shocked at split with Groupama-FDJ
Cycling
Arnaud Démare rode for Groupama-FDJ for over a decade, but it all came crashing down last summer. The French rider was excluded from the Tour de France lineup and that ultimately ended the collaboration between the two. He left the team as soon as possible, towards Arkéa - B&B Hotels, but tells that the emotions regarding the split are still present.
“There is this idea of revenge, of proving who I am. The anger is always present, as is the incomprehension. I have always been professional, I have always highlighted this Groupama-FDJ team and it is clear that I felt betrayed and not recognized for everything that I was able to give them," Démare admits in words to France TV. "It was hard to finally say to myself that despite everything I could do, there was no recognition behind it."
This lack of a smooth relationship saw Démare leave the French team. Marc Madiot, long-standing manager of the French team that is being overhauled, has no bad words to say of Démare and even complemented him in recent months when asked about the move. However, that changes nothing for the 32-year old.
"Politically, it’s interesting for him to say that. Now, I have nothing to say to Marc. In 12 years, no one has ever said 'bravo' to me, whereas Emmanuel Hubert, said it to me on the first phone call. I feel that they are proud to have me and I want to give back to them," he says. At Arkéa, where he already won twice last fall, Démare feels a completely new feeling and new motivation to perform.
Not only is he a sole leader of the team when it comes to the sprints, but he also becomes the team's star. With a World Tour license, the sprinter has full liberty of choosing his goals throughout the season, and in 2024 he has the grand desire of taking a stage win at the Tour de France.
"Arkéa - B&B Hotels has never won on the Tour, I've done it twice. I really hope to do it again and I know I'm capable of it, so that will be the objective for the month of July for the team and me,” Démare concluded.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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Front24208-11-2026
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