Le Son: Welcome both of you. Let's start by telling us what your role in the team is.

Faye Marcus: I'm Faye and i am the General Manager of FDJ.fr
Pierrick Fedrigo: I am Pierrick and i am a senior rider for FDJ.fr

LS: So Faye, this is your first job at the top end of the sport but you have prior experience in cycling?

FM: Well FDJ isn't quite the top end of the sport this season. Yes it's my first job at Elite Ments level but i previously worked at several National level womens teams in Australia, the US and Britain. Prior to joining FDJ i was Assistant GM at Matrix-Vulpine in the UK. So i've got knowledge and experience of running a team having spent my entire career working in and around cycling.

LS: And Pierrick, you joined FDJ in 2011 and was here when the EPIC regime took over at the end of 2012.

PF: Correct. My pro career began with Credit Agricole in 2002 alongside such riders as Thor Hushovd and Christophe Moreau. I switched over from Bouygues when their sponsorship of the team ended. With FDJ i've won a TDF and Giro stage and had a great collection of results. I like the team alot, especially mentoring and coaching the generation of riders in Pinot, Elissonde and more.

LS: Now that the team has relegated what challenges will you face this season?

FM: Luckily it's not a big change for me. I came in and was given a list of changes that had to be made. No prior programmes or relationships to damage. The biggest task has been to cut the budget which meant firing half the squad. I didn't know the riders but it's never a fun thing to do.
Now i've been working on maximising our season planning. Picking out races to suit our skills and working with the trainers to design rider schedules. It's not hugely challenging for me but that goal of promotion is a great target to work towards.

PF: Initially i was told i wouldn't get a new contract and that scared me. If that happened i don't think i'd be racing this year. Luckily Faye saw a need for me as a Road Captain. From there it's been business as usual just putting in the off-season training. My style won't change and my ambitions won't. I'm going out there to attack and try and get stage wins, simple as.

LS: What do you think of the reduced and revamped squad?

FM: The lack of budget made my work simple, get as much as possible for as little as possible. Stick to only other French guys and target youth. We got Alexis [Gougeard] via the draft and he is a great talent, on the level of Alaphillipe and Senechal. Pinot wanted to leave so we had to get something in return. Tony Gallopin i have long admired and his improvements in the last year made him a key target so i am happy to have his all-round talents on our team. Finally Quentin [Jauregui] was a great steal. He's very young [19] but incredibly talented and i think he can become a better version of Vichot.

PF: It's certainly a different squad to what i'm used to. Lots more youthful energy around and a bigger focus on classics and sprinting. Still i know my place and i look forward to calling the shots and taking this lean and powerful team as high up the rankings as we can push. I think it's a great team and an excellent foundation for future successes.

LS: Is promotion a realisitc goal? Do you honestly think it can happen?

FM: Yes and of course! The top end of the squad isn't really weaker. Yes we lost a good stage racer in Pinot but we can focus more on our sprint trio. Our scorers are better than last season and we are better organised as a team. I think we are the strongest team in the division thanks to our real ability to score on every terrain and promotion, perhaps not a formality, should come without major concerns.

PF: Ok i'm not as confident as Faye but yes i think we can promote. We will need Nacer [Bouhanni] and Arnaud [Demare] to win races but we also need big performances from people like Artur [Vichot], Jeremy [Roy] and Mathieu [Ladagnous] to get as many points as possible. Some other PCT teams look very strong like Bardini, AG2R and Lampre and we will have to really work hard to earn the promotion. And we will have to earn it on the road.

LS: What's the relationship like between the two of you, as senior parts of the team?

FM: Pierrick has been of great support to me. He knows the riders, the team and the staff. If i have a problem or don't know something he is there to provide an answer or translate or do whatever i need. I'm very lucky to have someone of his experience and character on the squad and hopefully, together, we can make a friendship to take us to the top of the sport.

PF: Well i am flattered. Faye has been excellent thus far. She's made a few errors but nothing serious. She listens to the riders and knows what she's doing. Faye is so far making a good impression as GM and is getting stuck into the job. I am very comfortable working for her and perhaps we will be friends for many years if things keep going like this.

LS: Thanks to you both for taking time out to speak to us.

FM: No problems!

PF: Merci!

TheManxMissile wrote:
b]

Part 1
[quote][center]Easy Goal: Top10 GP La Marseillaise
Medium: Stage Win Paris-Nice
Hard Goal: GC Top5 Crit In

TheManxMissile wrote:
we got a really tough goal of the DDV podium where we'll have to beat almost all of the WT's best classics riders, sure thing UCI!

Silvio Herklotz wrote:


With either Demare or Bouhanni this seems like a rather easy Hard Goal to me.. remember, you're not supposed to get this done

Le Son: Hello Alexis and Artur. Would you like to give us a quick introduction?

Alexis Gougeard: Hi, i'm Alexis Gougeard. I am a neo-pro for FDJ this season.
Artur Vichot: And i am Artur Vichot, a 4 year pro with FDJ and former National Champion.

LS: How has the off-season been for the both of you?

AV: It's been good. The team has undergone some big changes compared to previous winters. But for the most part us riders have been allowed to get on with things in much the same way. Personally i think i've upped my milage and i feel better than the past years at this time.

AG: Moving to a professional set-up has helped me a lot. I feel great and the trainers have really kept me in line over the winter period. I've spent a lot of time integrating into the team and making friends as well as training hard.

LS: Sounds good. Artur, you begin in a few days at the Tour Down Under.

AV: Yep the TDU is my season start. It's a nice punchy route this year that should suit me quite well. I've been putting in the training time to begin at good form rather than go searching in the first stages. Of course training can only prepare you so much. Even so i am confident i can pick up some good results.

LS: And Alexis, you begin a little bit late for the GP Marseillaise.

AG: Yes my debut is the opening French race of the year. It's a hilly route with a long run in to the finish. I can either help Gallopin pace on the climbs or chase on the flat for Plusvite. I am looking forwards to my first race and hope it goes well.

LS: Faye Marcus has said that she expects you Alexis to be the next French winner of Liege-Bastogne-Liege! Do you think that is possible?

AG: Not this year that's for sure! My skills are on those short hill climbs so hopefully i will grow into a good puncher for those one-day classics. How long that will take i don't know but i do think i can become good enough to win LBL. Faye has made clear i am the teams big development focus. She chose to draft me over many other riders for which i am grateful.

LS: Artur, do you think he can win a Monument?

AV: In 3-4 years yes i do. He's got more raw talent than i do and a longer time to develop that talent. Luckily for me i am still better so should get another season of protected role in the team before he pushes be downwards.

LS: Well thank you both for a quick chat, and we will talk again later in the year!

AG: No problems, good talk.
AV: Thanks and we'll see you around.