Cycling: Callot sweeps Guimard for the presidency of the Federation

852 votes (93.42%) for the outgoing Michel Callot, 60 votes (6.58%) for the challenger Cyrille Guimard… The election to the presidency of the French Cycling Federation (FFC) which took place this Saturday by electronic vote in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines delivered a final verdict.

Callot (54) was re-elected in a chair for a second four-year term.

As in 2009 when he was opposed to David Lappartient, Guimard, 74, an emblematic character of French cycling, has therefore failed in his attempt to move the lines of a federation "with lethargic and archaic functioning" according to him.

Guimard had the support of Longo and Madiot

The elective system was not favorable to him.

But the former sports director of Hinault or Fignon, consultant for RMC and the L'Equipe channel, had spared no efforts.

He carried out a very offensive campaign, multiplying the spikes vis-à-vis Michel Callot.

Exchanges, through the media, were often stormy between the two candidates.

At the head of the collective "Take my wheel", Guimard had received many supports such as those of Jeannie Longo or recently of Marc Madiot.

The boss of Groupama-FDJ, who recently left his post as president of the LNC (National Cycling League), declared “to be worried about the future of his sport” and contested the voting system.

"I must have had a license for forty-five years, at different levels, amateur runner, beginner, professional, team leader and I have never had a ballot in my hands for the federal elections" ...

Divisions that risk leaving traces

Guimard had, him, reproached Michel Callot for having put sticks in the wheels so that it obtains its 100 necessary sponsorships and had even deposited more than twenty conciliations with the French National Olympic Committee (CNOSF).

The objective was to cancel the results of certain departmental elective GAs and even to postpone this elective GA of the federation.

But on Friday, the CNOSF had rejected all his requests.

It already sounded like a first defeat to him.

The election confirmed it.

But the break that has appeared in recent weeks between two visions of a sport weakened by the loss of many licensees, risks leaving traces.