GEAR – 25 years of historic partnership between Groupama-FDJ and Shimano

The Groupama-FDJ cycling team and its official partner Shimano are continuing their commitment in 2021, celebrating 25 years of collaboration. For the Japanese company as well as for the French WorldTour team, this is the longest partnership in their respective histories.

Source: Press Release – Photo credits: Nicolas Götz / Groupama-FDJ Cycling Team

Since its creation in 1997, the Groupama-FDJ cycling team has revealed many riders who have achieved remarkable performances on bikes equipped with Shimano components. Led by its general manager Marc Madiot, the Groupama-FDJ cycling team has recorded more than 500 victories on bikes equipped with Shimano Dura-Ace (including 3 Cycling Monuments and 35 Grand Tour stage victories).

In 2021, the French team and its official equipment and components partner are renewing a faithful and lasting commitment, born with the Groupama-FDJ Cycling Team in 1997. The WorldTour team riders will be equipped with Shimano Dura-Ace R9170 disc brakes in 2021.

Among the riders in the 2021 roster are current French champion Arnaud Démare, climber Thibaut Pinot, winner of six Grand Tour stages and 3rd in the 2014 Tour de France, as well as European time trial champion Stefan Küng.

Marc Madiot, General Manager of the Groupama-FDJ Cycling Team:
“Celebrating our 25 years of collaboration in the year Shimano celebrates its centenary is a nice nod. After a quarter century of success with our Groupama-FDJ Cycling Team and after 100 years of manufacturing revolutionary bike components, Shimano continues to offer us more quality products and supports us daily in our approach to optimizing performance. We are already looking forward to celebrating other anniversaries together and sharing new emotional moments in the years to come.”

Myron Walraven, Sponsorship Manager for the Shimano Group:
“The Groupama-FDJ Cycling Team is one of the cornerstones of our sponsorship approach. In front of the cameras, Marc Madiot’s team delivers exceptional sporting performances. Behind the cameras, we work hand in hand, daily, guided by the pursuit of performance and attention to detail. Shimano products are undoubtedly better thanks to the collaboration of Marc and his riders.”

At the UAE Tour, which began on Sunday, February 21, the Groupama-FDJ cycling team is using Shimano’s Dura-Ace R9170 components for the first time this season in a WorldTour event.