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In the peloton since 1997
Sponsor: National lottery
Budget: $3.2 million
Manager/directeur sportif: Marc Madiot
Assistants: Yvon Madiot, Martial Gayant, Franck Pineau
Riders
CASAR Sandy (F), February 2, 1979
CASPER Jimmy (F), May 28, 1978
COOKE Baden (Aus), October 12, 1978
DURAND Jacky (F), February 10, 1967
GUESDON Frédéric (F), October 14, 1971
McGEE Brad (Aus), February 24, 1976
MENGIN Christophe (F), September 3, 1968
ROBIN Jean-Cyril (F), August 27, 1969
VOGONDY Nicolas (F)
Introduction
Marc Madiot presents an up-and-coming team, and the seven victoriescaptured at the beginning of the season show that he is headed in the rightdirection. Though no one is likely to compete for the overall win, therecould be a few riders who create their own luck — starting with Sandy Casar,who took an excellent second place in Paris-Nice. Jean-Cyril Robin alsohas high GC hopes, while Jimmy Casper and Jean-Patrick Nazon should featureprominently in the sprint finishes. Finally, we should keep an eye on theteam’s fast Australians, Brad McGee and the very promising Baden Cooke.There’s not a multitude of stages where the La Française des Jeuxriders can distinguish themselves, so they will have to seize every opportunity.TEAM WINS2001
CASPER: Mediterranean Tour, one stage; Circuit des Mines, onestage; Route du Sud, one stage; Tour du Poitou-Charentes, one stage.
McGEE: Midi Libre, one stage; Route du Sud, one stage.
DURAND: Tro Bro Leon.
NAZON: Tour de l’Avenir, one stage.
MAGNIEN: Paris-Brussels.2002
CASPER: GP Breukink, one stage; Cholet-Pays de Loire.
NAZON: Critérium International, one stage.
COOKE: Across Flanders.
DURAND: Dauphiné Libéré, one stageINTERVIEW
Marc Madiot, manager :
"What a relief to be at the start of the Tour, to have won a wild-cardslot. I believe that our rebuilding work will eventually pay off,as the mix of veteran racers and young talents is always worthwhile. That’swhy we should have a somewhat efficient Tour team. It will be difficultfor me to designate a leader, and we have a lot of work ahead choosingthe best combination, because all the riders deserve to be at the start.But only nine can go. The supreme dream would be to win a stage — JimmyCasper is no longer very far behind the great sprinters. And Sandy Casarhas proven in all the stage races that he can be competitive, althoughParis-Nice isn’t the Tour. We will fight consistently hard and give everythingwe’ve got."
