"Together we form the sprint train" - Bram Welten takes up main leadout role for Arnaud Démare following many departures
Cycling
The leadout train is one of the most important aspects of sprinting in pro cycling, and over the last few years Groupama - FDJ has built a big and steady block around Arnaud Démare. That however, has been dismantled this winter, and Dutchman Bram Welten is picking up the opportunity to become the Frenchman's right-hand man.
Over the past few seasons Démare, a stage winner at the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, Milano-Sanremo and many other races has had a designated block that followed him throughout the season - perhaps more than any other team. That had the main parts of Jacopo Guarnieri and Ramon Sinkeldam, who are leaving towards Lotto Soudal and (if it goes according to plan) B&B Hotels-KTM respectively.
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Although the French team has signed several under-23 riders who they hope to fill this role in the future, no major signing has been done by Groupama. Bram Welten was signed this season as a secondary sprinter, and he's stepping in as Démare's main leadout man in 2023, alongside Miles Scotson.
“Ninety percent of the races next season I will ride together with Miles Scotson and Arnaud," Welten revealed in an interview with Wielerflits. "Together we form the sprint train. I will therefore also make my debut in a Grand Tour in 2023. That was already foreseen in the last Vuelta a España, but Arnaud didn't start there at the last minute and that's why we did the Tour de Pologne together. I am really looking forward to a Grand Tour. If I have the choice, I think the Tour de France is very beautiful.”
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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.
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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)...
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- great analysis thanks! appreciate you posting this. I didn't realize CX had a different standard for deviation. this is even more egregious it seems.mij10-11-2026
- As he isn't currently with Red Bull, I guess if he want to race for one more year he needs to find a team. He's 37 so this will be his last year I would guess, unless he wants to race for almost nothing like Froome did.awp10-11-2026
- I think some are making much ado about nothing. Even though Jonas is getting older, before his crash in the Tour, he looked like a solid 2nd all the way home. No one can really climb with Tadej until this year, Eric Mas showed himself which I think was a one off year for him and Paul Seixas has been able to be pretty close to him. Whatever stage race Jonas enters as long as Tadej is not there he is a favorite to win.awp10-11-2026
- Giro or not Giro, he won't win the Tour!MajorPayne10-11-2026
- Very true.awp10-11-2026
- Ciccone had a very strong end of season. Consistently attacking and livening up races. Hope he makes that last leap in progress and starts notching some significant wins. Great rider to watch.Occam10-11-2026
- Me too!!!!!Occam10-11-2026
- they can sign any 100 of top riders today but Pogi will win over Remco any time at the TDF unless something goes wrongabstractengineer10-11-2026
- the time for a GC rider to retire is when they cannot win stages, or have a significant level drop like from winner/podium into top 5/10 consistently. Roglic is still competitive and Froome raced even though he became pack fodder.abstractengineer10-11-2026
- He should be in a different team. It was detrimental. For them it does not matter if he does not develop. He should have gone to a team where they need him to succeed.abstractengineer10-11-2026
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