"There were almost always two or three people competing": Clément Champoussin rejoices on Astana's rebirth

Clément Champoussin's first year with XDS Astana Team has been a success. With nearly 1.000 UCI points to his name in 2025, the French rider was one of the key contributors to his team's successful rescue mission with the aim to retain the World Tour license. And for 2026, his second season in Kazakh team, he hopes to improve even further.

In an interview with Astana, Champoussin takes stock of what it has meant for him as a rider to be part of a salvation that, at the beginning of the season, seemed impossible. But thanks to the investment of Chinese sponsor XDS, it has become a reality.

"Honestly, I feel very well in the team. I was received very well and the integration was natural and fluid. It was important to me that from the beginning of the season everything went well; I quickly found common ground with the coaches, sporting directors and teammates," Champoussin began by noting.

On the sporting front, the Frenchman claims to have completed a very positive year despite the wear and tear accumulated in the final stretch: "I am satisfied with my performance in the first half of the year. In the second part of the season, things got a little complicated; I felt the fatigue building up, but I concentrated on helping the team. Overall, I can consider the whole season a success."

The solid start to 2025 was no fluke. According to Champoussin, the key was continuity: "It was the first season in a long time where I didn't get sick and was able to complete a full, high-quality preparation. I felt the difference in everything: I gained more confidence in races and was more consistent overall."

But it's true that the entire Astana worked as one man in 2025. With the team they gathered before the season, they achieved the absolute maximum that was possible, and perhaps even a bit on top.

Champoussin especially highlights the collective drive of his teammates: "I would say, above all, in the physical. We worked as a team with a lot of professionalism, and this applied to all the races, even without a clear leader on paper. In the decisive sections there were almost always two or three people capable of competing, and that makes a big difference."

That group strength also had a psychological impact: "When you are not alone, but part of a strong and organized group, working becomes easier and calmer. It gives you confidence and allows you to grow tactically and mentally."

Champoussin himself didn't actually get to celebrate a victory this year, but saw the likes of Christian Scaroni raise their arms first-hand on a few occasions while the elusive triumph was within fringers' reach for the Frenchman multiple times. Then the goal for 2026 is at hand; to win.

If there is one race that marked his season, Champoussin has no doubt: "Paris-Nice is very special to me. I live in Nice, and it's a race I love at home. I achieved an excellent performance: proving my worth on every stage, getting good results in the mountains and finishing in the Top 7 overall."

Champoussin particularly impressed in the fifth stage of the race. On a very hilly day from Saint-Just-en-Chevalet to La Côte-Saint-André, only Lenny Martinez was able to rise above his compatriot while Champoussin left behind the likes of Joao Almeida or Jonas Vingegaard.

The final day, on his home turf, also left very strong impression within the 27-year-old: "The last stage in Nice was particularly emotional; moments like that are very motivating and stick in the memory."

Although the calendar is not yet defined, Champoussin is clear where he wants to put the focus: "I would very much like to race Paris-Nice again because I have a special connection with this race. As for grand tours, we'll see what the team decides; the final decision is still to be made."

He does recognize clear and ambitious goals: "I want to keep progressing, work even harder and fight for better results. In Paris-Nice, fighting for the overall victory is very difficult because of the level of competition, but I would like to finish in the top five and fight for a stage win. I think these goals are realistic if I keep progressing like I am now."