A disillusion that marks the end of an era. The 31-year-old cyclist, Arnaud Démare, was not selected by his Groupama FDJ team to participate in the next Tour de France 2023, a decision he learned last Thursday. In an interview at the team, he says he is “disgusted” by the treatment inflicted by Marc Madiot, and sees this non-participation as a “second breeze block”, after the announcement, half-word, of the non-renewal of his contract after 12 years and 93 victories .
Arnaud Démare confides that he wanted to “have the choice” at the end of the year, and affirms that his presence on the Tour de France was “registered” by his team last December. For him, it is not the estrangement with the leader David Gaudu which explains this non-participation, “in Paris Nice, I demonstrated that I had been able to appease the fire that had been set, that I had worked for him and for the team and he had a great Paris Nice”. As for his future? Arnaud Démare announces that he has “proposals”, without having made his choice: “I still have the win in my legs and in my head, I have not yet made my choice of the team with which I will win my future victories.