Rudy Molard begins his season in Europe, a few kilometers from his adopted land. On these roads that he knows by heart, the Groupama-FDJ puncher intends to show off.
You resumed in Australia on the Tour Down Under, where it went well (12e)…
Yes, even very well. I’m happy with my recovery, I was surprised to find myself at this level because it was a first for me to start there and as I had finished my season late, on the Tour of Lombardy, I had shifted a bit my recovery. I just miss the “top 10” (ranked at the same time as Coquard 10e), it’s a shame because it’s a great World Tour event, with a high plateau at the start. It’s no longer just a recovery race. it was played on the prologue (56e), which was decisive for the general standings, but I started on a wet road, unlike others, and the goal was not to fall for a restart. He also missed a finish at the top, because it came back on the descents… But the sensations were good.
Not too difficult, the thermal shock when returning to France?
it stings a little, even if we are privileged on the Côte d’Azur. But, in January, the bottom of the air was cool in the hinterland while the first week in Australia, it was between 35 and 38 degrees. That’s why I spent a week in Tenerife, to have a climate transition. it allowed me to build volume, it was important because in Australia, the stages were short, around 3 hours. I wanted to be ready for the Tour of the Alpes-Maritimes and the Var.
What are your ambitions here?
It’s not easy to say because the race is less tough than in recent years. There will be two sprints and a final stage where the difficulties are in the first half. We will have a big team at the start (with David Gaudu and Thibaut Pinot), but I don’t think there is an official leader. Everyone will have their chance depending on the sensations and it will be necessary to play the game well tactically on the last day.
David Gaudu can still play the final victory?
It’s a recovery race for him and it’s February… If someone else is on top, they’ll ride for him. This event may suit many people: it will be hard to put a tactic in place. And then there is the return of the bonuses, that can change the situation, you will have to be smart.
Traditionally, the race suits Groupama-FDJ well (victories for Vichot in 2013, 2016, 2017 and Pinot in 2019). Will it be up to you to take the race in hand?
That’s what we usually do, but there are the first two stages which should end in a sprint and we won’t have a sprinter, so it won’t be up to us to take on the race. We will have no interest in doing so.
Do you regret that the race is less hard?
I would have liked there to be a stage for the punchers. Over three days, there might have been one for the sprinters, another for the punchers and a final more mountainous one. But it will be quite open, that’s good.
You are going to run on your land and there is the finish in Vence, where you won in Paris-Nice (in 2018)…
There is additional excitement. I was very motivated to arrive competitive. I want to influence the race, play for the win. I know all these roads by heart, I take them in training, it can be an advantage. It is clear that I am the most motivated. For a few weeks, if I hesitated on my training course, I always returned by the end of the third stage. it won’t be as difficult as on Paris-Nice, where there was the bump of La Colle-sur-Loup before, but there is the climb of the Sine. I imagine there will still be some quick guys on foot, although the start of the stage can make a good selection…it will depend on the pace of the race.
On paper, is the third step the most suitable for you?
Yes, it’s the hardest and in addition, we arrive in Vence, we go to Tourrettes-sur-Loup (where he lives). But finding difficulties at the start is rare, so we don’t really know what to expect.
Are there customers leaving?
Yes, there are always beautiful people. This race is ideal for preparing Paris-Nice or Tirreno Adriatico, which are the first big goals of the season and which arrive two weeks later. There once more, there is a nice line-up, but I’m waiting for the final list to come up with names.
What’s next for your season?
I continue with Laigueglia (1is March), Paris-Nice (March 5-12) and Milan-Sanremo (March 18), which I will finally discover. Afterwards, there will be the Ardennes. The sequence is not defined.
The Tour de France will be on your program?
It’s still a long way off and the selection is not known, but what is certain is that I want to accompany Thibaut (Pinot, which will be on the Giro and maybe on the Tour de France) for his last season.
What does it mean to you that he announced his retirement for the end of the season?
It’s hard, even if I suspected it a little. It’s a big page that turns. Thibaut is not just a teammate, he is a friend. I’ll miss him.
If he wins the French championships, he will extend…
Yes, we must hope. In this case, he will do six more months. We don’t want this moment to come, but the years go by and we have to live with the times. He will remain the memories because most of my best moments on the bike, I knew them with him. There will be other projects, young people who are rising…
We saw on Bessèges that he had the right to a nice tribute from the public. Do you expect that here?
As he announced early that he would be quitting, all the organizers are going to have a nod for him. He is someone who has touched everyone, through his ups and downs. He is an atypical rider but leaves no one indifferent. He’s going to want to mark the occasion for his last here.
Can he still win good races this year?
Yes, he will give the maximum and will want to come out as a champion, through the front door. No risk of seeing him in the gruppetto. He always said he wanted to stop at the top. He is very motivated.
Rudy Molard
Born on September 17, 1989 (33 years old) in Gleizé (Rhône). Lives in Tourrettes-sur-Loup.
Professional
since 2012.
Teams: Cofidis (2012-16), Groupama FDJ (since 2017).
Awards
Stage victories in Paris-Nice (2018) and in the Tour du Limousin (2015). Wearer of the leader’s red jersey in the Vuelta in 2018 and 2022.
6 participations in the Tour de France (33e in 2019).
7e of Paris-Nice (2019, 20), 8e the Tour of Lombardy (2022) and the Flèche Wallonne (2017, 22).
Tour du Haut Var then 06-83: 9 participations (3e in 2018, 4e in 2021)…
The first two stages should come in a sprint, so it won’t be up to us to take on the race.”
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Thibaut (Pinot) is not just a teammate, he is a friend. I will miss him… He will want to come out as a champion, through the front door.”
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