In cycling, the most unexpected transfer of the 2022 season was born out of a casual discussion, “in the back of the truck” of the French team TotalEnergies. As a good Vendéen, his manager Jean-René Bernaudeau provides the oysters but leaves it to the Italian Roberto Amadio to bring the ham and the wine. Between the two friends, the discussion slips last summer on the future of Peter Sagan, at the end of the contract with the German formation Bora-Hansgrohe.
The Slovak’s trusted man since he launched him at Liquigas in 2010, Roberto Amadio plays matchmaker. “Roberto said to him: ‘You’ll feel good at Bernaudeau’s, he’s a non-conformist like you.’ Peter needs to have fun on a bike, to be in a friendly environment like at home”assures Jean-René Bernaudeau.
That feeling after reading the thousands of birthday wishes from all over the world ? Thank you so much everybody!… https://t.co/o2f0tWGbtJ
This Saturday, February 26, Peter Sagan, 32, is launching his campaign of Flandrian classics at Circuit Het Nieuwsblad after timid beginnings on the Tour of the Alpes-Maritimes and the Var. “Waiting for great Peter on Milan-San Remo in March”, his new boss announces a triple world champion – hampered by the Covid-19 during his preparation – in the service of Anthony Turgis.
Who would have imagined the rock-star of the peloton playing teammates for a little guy from Bourg-la-Reine (Hauts-de-Seine) in a ProTeam formation, the second level of world cycling? For bad sleepers, a Peter Sagan sated with victories would have found at the Essarts manor, headquarters of his new team, his “Mimosas pension” to sink a sweet early retirement. And he wouldn’t be the only one.
“We put up barriers before”
France is welcoming to thirty-somethings. The Colombian Nairo Quintana (32 years old) has been climbing for the Bretons of Arkea-Samsic for three seasons, the Belgian Greg Van Avermaet (36 years old) drives for AG2R-Citroën and the Italian sprinter Elia Viviani (33 years old) had taken a credit at Cofidis Northerners between 2020 and 2021.
In the case of the Italian, who joined the ranks of the British formation Ineos Grenadiers this season, the return on investment had left something to be desired. His former manager, Cédric Vasseur, conceded “a sporting failure”, while praising his contribution “in the mode of operation of the team”.
An element of language often used when said foreign star fails to garner the hoped-for victories. This was the case of the German André Greipel, sprinter in decline at Arkea in 2019. ” I do not regret itassumes the general manager, Emmanuel Hubert. I learned a lot by discussing with him, on the rigor and the requirement that can be asked of a runner abroad. In France, we have a little more tendency to be rounder, when it is sometimes necessary to go to the essential. »
Not scalded by this experience, the Breton took up Spanish the following season and recruited Nairo Quintana, winner of the Tour of Italy in 2014. At that time, would the Colombian’s agent have taken the trouble to consider the Hubert’s offer? “We will say that for five years the agents have come to consult usadmits the interested party. Maybe also that we put up barriers by saying that these guys were untouchable for us. »
Never without my brother
the french bashing has been fashionable in the 2000s. Between the lack of results, a professionalism not always there and an anti-doping policy perceived as more restrictive than elsewhere, the French formations were not popular.
“Foreign cyclists have long been hesitant, but this is no longer the caseconfirms the runners’ agent Philippe Raimbaud. They are reassured to sign with teams whose sponsors have been there for a very long time. You have no risk of seeing Cofidis or Groupama-FDJ stop overnight, as can happen elsewhere. These teams are very structured with good equipment, coaches, performance directors. They no longer have anything to envy to foreign teams. »
If his deep voice always ages him a little, Nairo Quinta found his legs as a young man for his third season with Arkea with victories in February in the Tour de la Provence then in that of the Alpes-Maritimes. Upon his arrival, the climber from Boyaca brought with him two team members, his little brother Dayer and his friend Winner Anacona, as well as his personal physiotherapist.
Peter Sagan also shares this sense of family and friendship. The seven-time green jersey of the Tour imposed, in the wedding basket with TotalEnergies, the presence of three team members (including his big brother Juraj, from all his previous formations) but also a mechanic, a sports director and his Press officer.
These requirements would have cooled a Patrick Lefevere, big boss of the Belgian formation Quick-Step, a time tempted. “The difference is that Lefevere already has an armada of classic winners, notes Philippe Raimbaud. If he can’t sign Sagan, it’s not the end of the world. For Jean-Rene [Bernaudeau], it was more important for the development of the team. Afterwards, when we take on a great leader, we do everything to put him at ease. If a mechanic is missing, we’ll take his. »
For Pogacar, France will wait
To hear Jean-René Bernaudeau, the demands of Peter Sagan were not for him. “Of the four people requested by Peter, three fill in the blanks with us. » The former lieutenant of Bernard Hinault no longer sees a “Sagan clan” and evokes a successful integration since the welcome wood fire grill in October 2021 at Les Essarts. “He had superior proposals elsewhere, but he chose us for what we represent, this family spirit, these values of fraternity. » Emmanuel Hubert relays his colleague: “Having reached a certain age, some foreign runners appreciate this side more “family”. Afterwards, you have to follow the salary level of course. We cannot go from single to double. »
On this second-hand market, the French teams have a few arguments, starting with a social model that is sometimes decried. ” During the Covid, they continued to pay their runners in full, which has not always been the case abroad”, notes Philippe Raimbaud. In France, cyclists are employees like the others, or almost, “not self-employed like at Ineos, UAE or Bora for example”continues Emmanuel Hubert.
In terms of taxation, it necessarily lacks a few “watts” to compete with these large cars and dream of poaching a Tadej Pogacar for example. The Slovenian, double winner of the Tour, is sitting on a long-term contract (until 2026 and 6 million euros annually) with the UAE formation and its state resources, in this case the United Arab Emirates.
“Like Egan Bernal at Ineos, they locked it down for a while”, admits Hubert. But at 23, the Slovenian still has a few long career years ahead of him before joining a tricolor team and pleasing his mother… French teacher.