Contacted, the manager of Groupama-FDJ Marc Madiot reacted strongly to the words of Richard Plugge, the boss of Jumbo-Visma, surprised that during the rest day the riders of the French formation were able to drink a few beers. What Madiot denies: “It’s okay, stop! On every rest day, we have a moment of conviviality between my riders and the management. The management drinks a beer, not necessarily the runners and even if they had one, it wouldn’t have been fifty centilitres. I was at the table, there were Perriers. It’s shabby, small and shabby. It’s a shame.
Who does he think he is? I have my nutritionist next door, he can talk to you about what we do within the team. Frankly, it’s an exceptionally base attack on his part. The next day, I asked my eight runners to do the lap time, including the non-specialists, and the worst was 80th (Quentin Pacher, 81st). I put eight riders in the top 80 and the next day I had four in the breakaway as he shuts his mouth. Shut his mouth! I don’t intend to meet him, I don’t give a fuck about his face. I’m not going to lower myself to go see him. I’m angry, it’s pathetic. »