"The Olympic Games have made me more recognisable" - Valentin Madouas reflects on new found French fame after silver in Paris road race
Cycling
A former French national champion and winner of notable races such as the Tour du Doubs, Bretagne Classic and Paris-Bourges, Valentin Madouas has long been known as a capable rider among cycling circles. After his silver medal in the road race at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games however, Madouas' name has been catapulted into wider fame in France.
"The Olympic Games have put me in a better light. I feel a bit more recognised," admits the 28-year-old of Groupama - FDJ in conversation with L'Equipe, clearly enjoying his newfound notoriety. "That's great. I'm trying to take all this positive energy and get back to work. For the next few seasons, I'm going to keep the image of the city of Paris. It's been a magical time."
"I took a week off after the Olympic Games, even though I was getting a lot of media attention," adds Madouas, who was best of the rest behind double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel in Paris. "I added the Tour du Limousin to my programme to avoid being stuck with this medal and to bounce back because the season is going to be very long. I want to perform well, I haven't won since the start of the season, so all these races are important to try and win. I don't particularly like training and competitions help me to go further."
Whilst his silver medal has boosted his profile in the wider French consciousness, Madouas insists not much has changed in regards to his role with Groupama - FDJ. "I'm a leader in the Groupama-FDJ team. My performance at the Olympics didn't change much. I had my chance in other races at the start of the season, but unfortunately I didn't manage to win," he assesses. "That doesn't change my role in the team. The aim is still to win races and put in big performances at World Tour level. We're trying to complement David Gaudu. It's great to have several great riders in the same team. It's going to help us progress and be even stronger."
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