“The model is Ajax”: how French cycling has become attractive and ambitious again

In the 1970s and 1980s, the French professional teams were a must for foreign riders (Sean Kelly, Joop Zoetemelk or Greg LeMond) and amateur French clubs like the ACBB (which saw Stephen Roche, Robert Millar or Phil Anderson) posed as a springboard.

Then France slowly went out of fashion.

Before returning to the taste of the day.

Like the transfer of the year, the arrival of Peter Sagan, the triple world champion, in the TotalEnergies team.

Symbol of renewed attraction and ambition.

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“The phone was ringing everywhere.

I have never had so many requests from technical and financial partners.

He had proposals from big teams but Peter did not want to enter the classic big team scheme where everything is calculated.

He needed freedom.

There were no obstacles but long negotiations which lasted three months,

says Jean-René Bernaudeau, the manager of the Vendée team…

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