Since stepping into the role of team manager at Cofidis, Cedric Vasseur has wasted little time in trying to improve his star rider Nacer Bouhanni. The former Tour de France yellow jersey has remodelled the sprinter’s early-season race programme, brought in the experienced directeur sportif Roberto Damiani and helped build up Bouhanni’s often brittle confidence.
Bouhanni, a five-time Grand Tour stage winner in 2014, has only shown glimpses of his ability since a big money move to Cofidis at the start of the 2015 campaign. Vasseur, who rode with a number of high-profile riders in his days at Gan, Cofidis, US Postal, and Quick-Step, has made no secret of developing Cofidis into more than a one-man team, and at the Dubai Tour, the French team has been present in several early breaks. A stage at the Etoile de Bessèges - courtesy of Christophe Laporte - last week saw Cofidis open their account for the season. Vasseur hopes that if the rest of the team can chip in with victories Bouhanni will not feel a burden of expectation, as he has in the past.
“What was important was to start with a good attitude, rather than the idea of chasing the first win of the season. However, it’s always very pleasing for everyone on the team for us to say that after just a few days of racing we have already won a race. That’s gives confidence and it also takes away some of the pressure,” Vasseur told Cyclingnews.
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The former Tour de France stage winner admits that Bouhanni was sceptical of his appointment and approach at the start back in October. But, the two worked on their relationship during two winter training camps, with Vasseur eventually building enough trust for Bouhanni to buy into his philosophy.
“The relationship is good. When Nacer learned that I was coming to the team, he didn’t really know me other than my television work,” explained Vasseur. “At the beginning, of course, he wasn’t that open to talking but we had a good camp in December and another good one in January, where I explained what I was expecting from him during the season. I told him how I would try and help him reach his best level because that’s the most important thing.
“At the beginning, we didn’t really have the same view on his 2018 season, but once we talked more about why he had to do Dubai, Oman, and Paris-Nice in order to be in top shape for Milan-San Remo he started to really open up. He needs confidence and it was lost over the last few years, so I think he’s starting the season in a good mental way. I’ve helped him to see that having other possibilities for winning in the team, like Laporte going to Paris-Nice is also good for Nacer.”
Thinking outside the box
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