"They have 25 potential leaders - Giants with near-state sponsorship" - Rival team boss unsurprised by UAE dominance with Tadej Pogacar backed for another Rainbow Jersey

Groupama - FDJ boss Marc Madiot says he is far from surprised by the dominance of UAE Team Emirates - XRG this season, insisting their sheer depth of talent makes their victory haul inevitable.

UAE have already racked up an extraordinary 85 (at time of writing) wins in 2025, with Tadej Pogacar leading from the front. But according to Madiot, the explanation is simple. “They have 25 potential leaders in their squad, so it’s logical,” he told Cyclism’actu. “With three riders in the world’s top six, their results are consistent.”

Madiot believes the scale of UAE’s dominance highlights a broader structural issue: the growing divide between state-backed “superteams” and outfits funded through more traditional sponsorship models.

“Yes, there are two models,” he explained. “The giants with near-state sponsorship, and the traditional sponsorship based on image return. Both coexist, but cycling’s future is at a crossroads, as we’ve seen with the Vuelta. Questions will need to be asked about the regulation and organisation of tomorrow’s cycling, both at team and race level.”

Asked whether he envied the resources of rivals such as Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team, Madiot admitted the gap is evident but stressed his satisfaction with Groupama - FDJ’s partners. “They have means we don’t. But we are happy and proud of the loyalty of our sponsors Groupama and FDJ. I’m very happy at the moment,” he said.

Attention now turns to Kigali, where Pogacar will look to add another rainbow jersey to his palmarès. For Madiot, the Slovenian and the riders of UAE Team Emirates (although riding for their national team) will once again be the benchmark. “Nothing is written in advance, but it’s clear UAE will hold the keys to the race,” he said.

Asked about French prospects, the Groupama - FDJ manager was cautious. With Valentin Madouas selected and Romain Grégoire sitting out in favour of other goals, expectations are being kept in check. “The French team reflects the state of the peloton at the end of the season, with injuries and riders out of form,” Madiot explained. “Thomas Voeckler has done what he can with the resources available. We can be competitive without being favourites. The conditions – altitude and heat – will be particular, but I’m calm about it.”

Madiot admitted that a French podium would represent the very best-case scenario, though he was keen not to rule it out entirely.

Madiot also weighed in on Pogacar’s recent gesture at the GP de Montréal, where the Slovenian gifted victory to teammate Brandon McNulty. “It was normal in the situation when your name is Tadej Pogacar (laughs),” he said. “A team logic, entirely predictable.”

For Madiot, the episode underlined not only Pogacar’s stature, but also the clarity of UAE’s collective strategy — one that makes their control of the peloton appear almost routine.