16/06/2022

"We have a lot of riders of the same type in our squad, all at about the same level" - Amaury Capiot on Arkéa-Samsic's internal disputes

Amaury Capiot is having his best season to date this year, being an important piece for Arkéa Samsic's successful assault at World Tour level, which is set to happen in 2023. Not everything is good in the French team though, as internal disputes are regular in the sprinters' side.

Lately in the Belgian semi-classics Capiot was unhappy with how Team Arkéa Samsic had managed his expectation, when he was given a domestique role in the Brussels Cycling Classic, but then last-minute again at the Ronde van Limburg: "No problem for me, because it was said that the next day I would get my chance in my own region. But then you get back on the bus, and you're told they've changed their mind after all."

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Capiot aknowledges that this issue comes from Arkéa's depth when it comes to the sprints and classics riders. He has to battle with the likes of Nacer Bouhanni, Hugo Hofstetter and Dan McLay to have his leadership spots. "We have a lot of riders of the same type in our squad, all at about the same level. They are all very fast, and we sometimes have to make difficult choices about who does the sprint and when. I understand that, of course, but if you're good, you should be given opportunities," he added.

"Also in Boucles de la Mayenne. It's not that I got a lot of support now, but I've proved that I don't need that support to win. Although it would be easy to get a little more support in those situations," the 28-year old said. He recently won a stage at the Boucles de la Mayenne, aswell as the GP Marseillaise early in the year, proving his level amongst the Pro Teams.

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These disputes are not set to stop, as Capiot is teaming up with Hugo Hofstetter at the Baloise Belgium Tour. However, he is at the time being the only sprinter the French team has in the schedule for the Tour de France - although the support for Nairo Quintana is set to take some resources away from the Belgian. However, he hints at the national championships where he will be a contender for the win.

"Otherwise there's still the Belgian championsips, isn't it? I know I'm not the fastest in Belgium. There are about five or six sprinters, so that won't be an easy task. But you should always have ambition for a championship," he concluded.