The last few months have been busy for Arnaud Démare. After a long 12 years at Groupama-FDJ, the cyclist changed teams in the middle of the 2023 season, motivated by disagreements with the team led by Marc Madiot.
Exclusion from the Tour de France marked the team’s departure
Excluded from the selection for the Tour and with his contract renewal not completed, Démare chose to terminate the agreement and join the Arkéa – B&B Hotels team on August 1st.
Now, on the eve of the Mallorca Challenge (January 24th to 28th), the race in which Arnaud Démare will start the season, in an interview with the French channel cyclismactu, the Frenchman revealed what the tumultuous past months were like and shared his goals for the future.
Idea of revenge
“There is this idea of revenge, of proving who I am”, declares the winner of the 2016 Milan-Sanremo in statements to France TV.
“Anger is always present, as is misunderstanding. I have always been professional, I have always highlighted the Groupama-FDJ team and of course I felt betrayed and not recognized for everything I was able to give them”.
“It was hard to finally tell myself that despite everything I could do, there was no recognition behind it.”
In 12 years, no one has ever said “bravo ” to me
Arnaud Démare is now entering a new phase of his career, with Arkéa – B&B Hotels, where he seems to enjoy it. “In 12 years, no one has ever said ‘bravo’ to me, whereas Emmanuel Hubert (general manager of the new team) told me that in the first phone call. I feel like they are proud to have me and I want to give back to them,” said Démare.
Watch Démare’s first victory in the new team
Démare starts this new season with a big objective, to make the colors of his new team shine, especially in the Tour de France. “Arkéa – B&B Hotels has never won the Tour, I’ve done it twice. I really hope to do it again and I know I’m capable of it, that will be our objective for the month of July”, concluded the French Champion of 2014, 2017 and 2020.