Sunday, Stéphane Javalet, at the head of the Aubervilliers professional structure since 1994, began his 28th year in the peloton during the GP La Marseillaise.
The oldest manager of a French team behind Vincent Lavenu (who created Chazal in 1992), he nevertheless approached this comeback "with as always the excitement of a schoolboy".
Originally from La Manche, a former amateur runner and former teacher of technical subjects in an agricultural high school, he arrived as an educator in Aubervilliers in 1984.
“At one point in the amateur team, I did everything, runner, sports director, masseur, mechanic”, continues Javalet, now 60 years old, who had therefore had the opportunity to embark on the professional adventure with his CM Aubervilliers club.
"What he has built is a great success," considers Marc Madiot, the boss of Groupama-FDJ.
I don't know if I could have lasted as long as him with so little money.
He is committed, always willing to fight.
I admire, great respect to him!
He has the club spirit, his team plays an essential role.
He is an indispensable gentleman on the bike.
"
"His strength is never to let go"
“To hold out for that long is great,” says Thierry Gouvenou, the technical director of the Tour who spent six years at BigMat.
Jaja is first and foremost an educator, he defends a real global training project, from cycling school to pros.
Bringing a team to life on the outskirts of Paris didn't seem like the best place, but if it lasts, it's because there is work behind it.
It's a great little pro team that has its place.
"
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With Aubervilliers, alone or associated with sponsors (BigMat, HP-BTP and Saint Michel now), he has known summits.
The giant posters in his office of Cyril Saugrain's victory in the fourth stage of the 1996 Tour de France or of Christophe Capelle's title of champion of France in 2000, attest to this.
But after five participations in the Tour (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001), Aubervilliers has been evolving at a more modest level since 2004, the 3rd professional division.
“The only time I saw him discouraged was when BigMat let us down in 2003,” says Stéphan Gaudry, sporting director at his side for over 20 years.
But his strength lies in never letting go.
Its a little rock and roll side where passion sometimes comes before the organization does not necessarily pass with everyone.
But Auber, it's him, it's his life, years of work.
He sets the tempo.
He's never been comfortable, he's never had partners who have signed big checks to be quiet for several seasons.
Every year he has to go coal to make ends meet.
"
A fight against her son's cystic fibrosis
This father of three children (aged 32, 28, 24) also draws his strength from his personal trials.
At six months, her youngest son, Ronan, has cystic fibrosis.
“It's a daily struggle,” he explained to us.
This is why when Auber's results do not follow or everything is bad at the office, it is difficult to complain.
Today Ronan is a physiotherapist student and even came to do internships in the team.
Stéphane Javalet is still very involved in "The association to overcome cystic fibrosis", for which he donates every year, the benefits of the traditional "ride of the little guys from Auber", a cyclo mixing pros and supporters of the team, a concept he was the first to put in place.
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Javalet admits “having damaged his health a little with this passionate, very impactful job where (you) never get bored”.
“Even if it has never been easy financially, I have always respected my commitments and I am proud of it,” he continues.
His relatives highlight his hyperactive side.
“He cannot stay five minutes without doing anything,” explains his partner Marie Spalma.
When he reads a book, he finishes it in three days.
He's always on the phone.
The bicycle inevitably invades the private sector.
In 19 years, I think we spent only one week of vacation during which he put an absence message on his phone.
To stop, he does not know how to do.
"
His other passion is the sea. He owns two boats, one in his native region in Créance (Manche), the other in his adopted port in Hyères (Var).
“We often go to the Porquerolles Islands, he likes to fish and dive.
He would like to take skysurfing lessons but he has not yet found the time in his thousand activities, ”continues his partner.
An SME "that corresponds to my values"
In his team, Javalet emphasizes conviviality.
: “Living as a human being is important in sport.
Certainly, one might think that it was a little less glorious when we experienced the Tour de France, but I do not feel frustrated to lead a small SME on a human scale which corresponds to my values.
"
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Being a little one who fights against the big ones also allows him to "experience events with a strong emotional charge" such as the title of champion of France from Steven Tronet in 2015 when Auber no longer had a title sponsor.
In 2015, Stéphane Javalet in the middle of his riders celebrates the title of champion of France from Steven Tronet.Mathilde L'Azou
“He loves cycling and men,” sums up the former yellow jersey, Romain Feillu, who ended his career at Auber.
He is not attracted like some other managers by what shines and is not ready to do anything to perform.
He defends a family side, ethical and for that, they found themselves well with St Michel.
I have never seen him take a spectator or as a tall child.
He is often outraged by the disdainful side of some big teams.
He is a man with a heart, I am going through a complicated divorce and he is always there to support me, despite having left the team for over a year.
"
Javalet does not see himself easing off.
" It is not finished!
When I arrived with my team in 1994, I didn't know anything about the professional world.
I had to learn, renew myself and adapt to technological developments, to the languages of young people.
I don't necessarily dream of doing the Tour de France again, but I still have plenty of projects like developing the women's team.
»While putting on his salesman's costume to leave, tirelessly, in search of partners.
