Paul Penhoët will be sidelined from the beginning of the 2024 season due to a cruciate ligament injury. The Groupama-FDJ sprinter will not be fit to compete for at least three months, as announced by the French team.
“Paul has suffered an injury to the ligament in his right knee, which requires surgery. He will be unable to participate in competitions for approximately three months,” wrote Groupama-FDJ in a brief statement. The exact details of how Penhoët sustained this injury are not known.
Three victories in 2023
Penhoët, at just 22 years old, secured three professional victories last season, all in his home country. He won the Tour du Finistère and the Tour Poitou-Charentes (two stage victories). In the Groupama-FDJ team, Penhoët was set to be one of the sprint leaders for the upcoming season.
Out of the Giro d’Italia
“It’s a tough blow for Paul and the team,” comments Philippe Mauduit, the team’s performance manager currently at the Training Camp. “In particular, he was supposed to participate in the Giro d’Italia, which would have been the first Grand Tour of his career. It’s a disappointment, but Paul is already focused on what awaits him: the operation, recovery, and preparation. Seasons are long, and he will still have significant races to express himself and make a difference.”