“Romain Grégoire is the future star of our cycling”
The climber from Groupama-FDJ (much sought after and already announced in Bahrain next year), the youngest leader in the history of the Tour of Spain last year, embodies this new French generation, very prominent in the recent Ardennes classics. “There is a new generation in France, it’s nice to see that it’s growing, commented on Sunday, the experienced Romain Bardet (33 years old) during the press conference after Liège-Bastogne-Liège, which he had just finished in second place. On the Doyenne, he found himself chasing behind Tadej Pogacar in the company of the Irishman Ben Healy but also two compatriots: Benoit Cosnefroy, recent winner of the Flèche Brabançonne and the very promising Romain Grégoire, teammate of Lenny Martinez. “Young French people are very presentadds Romain Bardet. Romain Grégoire, for example, is the future star of our cycling. There are several great, well-trained talents, on several different teams. They are coming to the forefront more quickly than in my time. We also feel that there is great emulation between them.”
A year older than Lenny Martinez, Romain Grégoire was very consistent in the Ardennes. Races that he loves and that he largely dominated in the hopeful category, in 2022, with his victory at Liège-Bastogne-Liège for the under-23s and at the Flèche Ardennaise, each time ahead of a certain Lennert Van Eetvelt after having battled in the juniors against Cian Uijtdebroeks, whom he appreciates. Baptiste's big brother, one of the best international juniors, has also just won a stage of the Tour of the Basque Country and was offensive in the final of the Doyenne after finishing seventh at the top of the Mur de Huy and twelfth in the 'Amstel Gold Race.
A generation that evolves together from the cadets and pulls itself up
On the Dutch classic, it was Paul Lapeira (23), from Décathlon AG2R and also winner of a stage of the Tour of the Basque Country, who flirted with the podium by placing fifth, before finishing eleventh in Cork. While in the freezing rain which marked a very trying Flèche Wallonne, Kevin Vauquelin (22 years old) managed to get on the podium. In second place behind Stephen Williams, whom he regretted not having followed faster. “There is indeed emulation between young French runnershe explains. It's nice to chat together in the peloton. And it's motivating to see everyone's results. It pulls us up.”
Less visible for his results on the Ardennes, Axel Laurance (23 years old) had been there for Mathieu van der Poel at Alpecin-Deceuninck. This former U23 world champion, winner this year of a stage of the Étoile de Bessèges and a stage of the Tour of Catalonia, also has a bright future. “I am not surprised by the success of the young French runners. We've known each other since cadets (Editor’s note: 15 and 16 year olds), he commented to France Info. We were already strong in the junior categories, we are pulling each other up and we have grown together.”
In 2023, 51% of France's UCI points were won by riders under the age of 23. If Julian Alaphilippe (31 years old), the French leader of French cycling for many years, is struggling to regain his best level since his serious fall in Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 2022, many young people seem ready to take up the torch, on several land. Including at the sprint level, with the nugget of Soudal-Quick Step Paul Magnier (20 years old).
