“It was a new chapter”

Analyzing La Conti’s 2023 Season: A Promising Year for Development

The fifth season of La Conti, a continental cycling team, has been analyzed by sports director Jérôme Gannat. Gannat considers the season to be satisfying and promising for the future of the team. In an interview, Gannat discussed the team’s improvement throughout the season, the challenges of building a new group, and the highlights of the year.

According to Gannat, the team showed development and improvement both collectively and individually. Many riders transitioned from the junior ranks and successfully adapted to the elite/under-23/class 2 level. Gannat stated, “The primary objective of a continental team like ours is the rider’s development. From this point of view, this season confirmed the trend of past years.” He also noted that the team met their expectations for the season.

However, Gannat acknowledged that the team faced challenges due to a high turnover and a lack of experienced riders. He stated, “It was a 200% training year. We must also be aware that 2022 was exceptional and that it was not possible to do it again. We knew it.” Despite this, the team still achieved some promising results, including five victories.

The team had to adapt physically, mentally, and as a team to the higher level of competition. Gannat emphasized that physical adaptation was crucial, as class 2 races are significantly different from junior races in terms of distance and competition. He mentioned the importance of the team spirit and the willingness to work together, especially in sprints. Gannat said, “If they worked as a team, they were going to achieve results, even individually.”

While the team did not have a big leader, Gannat saw it as an opportunity for riders to have more freedom and seek individual results. He mentioned Lewis Bower’s breakthrough in the Arctic Race of Norway as a turning point for the team. Gannat said, “They all realized this. Few riders in the group could say: I’m going to stay in the bunch, use my card in the final and win.” He also highlighted the importance of building a new team spirit every year.

Despite not being as competitive in hard races compared to the previous year, Gannat believes the team made progress and had several highlights in the 2023 season. These include Thibaud’s strong start, Noah’s fifth place in Ghent-Wevelgem, and Joshua’s two victories in the Giro della Valle d’Aosta. Gannat also mentioned the Arctic Race of Norway as a significant race for the team’s performance and exposure.

Looking ahead to the 2024 season, Gannat emphasized the need for continued development and improvement. He stated, “We have to pursue this developing cycle, and don’t think that it is over. We can still bring them more.” Gannat hopes to see individual and collective progress, as well as more victories and results for the team.

Gannat also mentioned the success of the team’s connection to the WorldTour team, with Eddy Le Huitouze joining the WorldTour squad in the winter. He highlighted that nearly 50% of the WorldTour squad for 2024 comes from the Conti team, showcasing the effectiveness of their development program.

Overall, Gannat is optimistic about the future of the team and believes that as long as the group continues to improve, it will be rewarding for the staff and the team. He reiterates the importance of enjoying the sport and finding motivation to improve.