Groupama–FDJ

But yeah, so a few transfers confirmed since we last spoke as well about transfers.

Yeah, well, you're blindingly missing the Groupama-FDJ resurgence that's going on here.

They've signed Ludovico Clescioli from Palti.

They've also signed Alexander De Lettler from Total Energies and Abelian Jonier from Total Energies, which I realize they're not the Pegatras of the world, but Groupama is a squad which is...

Yeah, I rate that.

Uh, right then, this week, uh, we have a, a, a detailed view of Team Groupama-FDJ, FDJ.

Uh, it's, it's ripe for ankle jokes-

[laughs]

I know.

But thankfully with three laps to go, they did start to race, and it was Groupama-FDJ who took it up.

Um, they, they kicked it all off and, and thereafter, well, you put a little message on the group.

You said you were engrossed.

Amritel seventh, they're happy.

Groupama-FDJ, eighth overall, no stage wins.

Astana, ninth and 10th overall, no stage wins.

14th overall for Burgos.

Yeah.

They actually, um, Groupama-FDJ placed three riders out of the 16 in the breakaway today.

Um, and on the final climb, actually, the first attack came from Rudy Molard, who f- like, he...

I remember him, we, in addition, we commentated on, I remember him w- leading the Vuelta-

... hasn't he, Rudy, Rudy Molard?

Yeah.

But when you look at the progress that, um, Decathlon, and we've talked about it a lot, haven't we? The progress that they're making with the Sexas project and the whole restructuring of the management and ownership, the sponsorship money pouring in, the sheer ambition of Decathlon, it's quite humbling to watch Groupama-FDJ go about their business at Grand Tours now, isn't it, David? Because David Gaudu, he's not at this race, he's a completely spent force.

I mean-

Oscar Onley, good ride from him, perhaps fifth, and he, he increases his lead over his, uh, white jersey rival, Jakob Ormsel, um, almost doubling his advantage on GC.

Clément Berthet moves up two places from ninth to seventh from Groupama-FDJ.

Skjelmose drops one place.

Cristian Rodriguez of XDS Osana drops one place, but his teammate Harold Tejada pops up into the top 10 at the expense of Sepp Kuss.

The weather was set fair in the low 30s with only light winds forecast.

Three riders were also quick to get their hair in the breeze: Cyril Barthe, Sinuhé Fernández of Burgos-BH, Enzo Paleni of Groupama-FDJ, and Frederik Dversnes of Uno-X.

Within a couple of kilometers, Giro stage winner Dversnes seemed to have reconsidered his life choices and was dropping back to the peloton.

The remaining two escapees would quickly build a handy lead despite the short-lived flurry of counterattacks from the main bunch.

And the last time that Primoz Roglic won the Vuelta a España in 2024, the gentleman I'm talking about won the time trial on the last day.

I'm referring to Stefan Küng.

Of course, he was riding then for Groupama-FDJ.

Now he rides for Tudor-