Cycling. Road – Marc Madiot: “We are becoming more and more like football…”

The file Maxim Van Gils (Lotto Dstny) is causing a lot of talk in the world of cycling. Indeed, the Belgian runner who seems to want to leave the training of Stéphane Heulot, Lottery Dstnyis pushing ahead despite a contract that is supposed to block him. And the trend is towards a departure according to the media, giving reason to Maxim Van Gils and his agent, Alex Carera. A worrying situation according to the boss of the Groupama-FDJ, Marc Madiot. “In general, I find that we are becoming more and more like football, without having the compensations football. I don’t find it very healthy, neither for the team, nor for the rider. No, it’s not good, it’s not good.”he explained to RTBF.

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“This attitude jeopardizes everything that Lotto has represented…”

Marc Madiot went into detail about the case Maxim Van Gils. “The Lotto-Dstny team needs this rider and has a signed contract with him. I put myself in their place, they have been there for decades and have invested money, they have the chance to discover a good rider in Maxim Van Gils and overnight, for x or y reason, he wants to leave. This attitude endangers everything that Lotto has represented in Belgian cycling. Today it’s Lotto but tomorrow it might be Quick Step or someone else. I’ve also experienced this in the past. There is still a problem”, he declared.

He also spoke about competition from “new sponsors” facing the elders. “There are new big partners who have arrived in cycling, state sponsors like the United Arab Emirates, Astana or Bahrain. They weren’t there before and perhaps won’t be there the day after tomorrow. And in front of that, we still have a pool of sponsors who have been loyal to cycling for several years, such as the Belgian and French lotteries, Cofidis, Quick Step and others. With the flip of a sleeve, overnight, we can call into question these structures and undermine their loyalty, and that is still very unhealthy”explained Marc Madiot.