Cavagna's tough time at Movistar: "The only positive I took from it is that I learned Spanish"

The marriage between Rémi Cavagna and Team Movistar was not meant to last. From the beginning, things were difficult, and both parties agreed almost immediately that this would not work. What should have lasted three years ended up lasting only a year. Still, it had significant consequences because the problem covered all aspects.

2024 was downright disastrous for the French rider, who will debut Sunday for his new Groupama-FDJ team in the Grand Prix de Marseille La Marseillaise. He did not finish in the top ten once except at the French time trial championships. "I left 2024 behind me. It was a bad experience; it didn't go as I had hoped. I want to bounce back and not get stuck in that negative phase," Cavagna said in a conversation with DirectVelo.

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Cavagna in better times, when he still won

The problem made everything complicated for Cavagna at Movistar

The match between the Spanish team and the French rider soon proved non-existent. "It was not at all what I expected from it. I was disappointed in what I found there, but at the same time, I also disappointed the team, I must admit. It was unthinkable to stay in the team any longer. Leaving was the best thing for everyone," the 29-year-old fast rider believes.

"The problem was sporting, physical, mental, and relational. I just didn't feel good in the team. I wasn't getting the support I had hoped for, which quickly affected my emotions and even my personality in everyday life. I didn't recognize myself anymore. I was losing myself. The only positive thing I got out of it was that I learned Spanish. Furthermore ... a career progresses fast, so it was not an option to lose any more time," Cavagna is harsh in his words.

Consequently, last year, the 2023 French time trial champion was in pretty deep trouble. "I didn't feel like racing anymore. Things weren't working out during races. I was stalling, and that created tension." At first, Cavagna disconnected from the whole situation. "In the end, the team and I discussed it to find a solution."

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Cavagna in a time trial for Movistar

He arrives at Groupama-FDJ, where he is training a lot on his time trial again

A solution was found with - how could it be otherwise - a French team. Yet for Cavagna, that was certainly not a straightforward decision. "I did not see myself on a French team. I thought foreign teams were more advanced technologically, especially in equipment. But in the last three or four years, I have realized that teams like Groupama-FDJ and Decathlon AG2R are evolving significantly."

As a result, the French rider is sure he can return to his old level. The focus remains unchanged in the time trial. "The team is investing tremendously in it," says Cavagna, who spent last winter from test and wind tunnel to test and wind tunnel. "This is exactly what I need to perform as well as I can in time trials. This is encouraging because I always felt I needed one or two more steps to reach the absolute top. Unfortunately, in 2024, I have not made progress but regressed. Therefore, I don't want to waste any more time, and I have to give it my all. This winter, I trained harder than ever, especially on time trials."

That looks promising. Sunday Cavagna may show it when the time trial in the Star of Bessèges is on the program. However, there is a climb at the end, which will not help him.

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