Madiot 'dumbstruck' by sports minister's Tour de France comments

Groupama-FDJ boss Marc Madiot
Groupama-FDJ boss Marc Madiot isn't happy (Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

Groupama-FDJ manager Marc Madiot has added his voice to a considerable backlash against France's sports minister, saying he was "dumbstruck" by her recent comments that "sport won't be a priority in our society".

Roxana Maracineanu caused quite a stir when she appeared on Eurosport's 'Le Club' programme on Wednesday evening and insisted "it won't be the end of the world" if the Tour de France and other events did not go ahead this year.

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Patrick Fletcher

Patrick is an NCTJ-trained journalist, and former deputy editor of Cyclingnews, who has seven years’ experience covering professional cycling. He has a modern languages degree from Durham University and has been able to put it to some use in what is a multi-lingual sport, with a particular focus on French and Spanish-speaking riders. Away from cycling, Patrick spends most of his time playing or watching other forms of sport - football, tennis, trail running, darts, to name a few, but he draws the line at rugby.