We were fortunate enough to welcome Kevin Geniets to the Clubhouse for the 2nd year in a row!

During the evening, Kevin, a rider for Groupama-FDJ, reflected on his successful 2024 season and looked ahead to the next. Interspersed with discussions with the audience, he also shared insights into the life of a professional cyclist, with all that it entails.

A look back at a unique evening!

PRESENTATION

Let's start at the beginning, let me introduce you to Kevin Geniets! Born in Luxembourg, he excelled from a very young age in the amateur ranks and was quickly spotted by AG2R La Mondiale. He notably won multiple national titles in the U23 road race and U23 time trial.

An intern with the Chambéry team, he was finally recruited in early 2019 by another French team, Groupama-FDJ, and made his entry into the deep end of the World Tour, all at the age of 22!

He made his mark from the very first season as a teammate, achieving impressive results in one-day races. These strong results, coupled with the team's confidence, ensured he would remain an indispensable member of Groupama-FDJ in 2025! Wearing his Luxembourg champion's jersey, he will begin his seventh season with the French team in 2025.

A LOOK BACK AT A RICH 2024 SEASON AND A LOOK OUT FOR 2025

2024 began in the best possible way for Kevin, with a victory at the GP la Marseillaise. He attacked on the Col de la Gineste, the last climb of the day, alongside his teammate.Against Rémi Rochas and Frenchman Alex Baudin, he resisted the return of the pursuers to finally win the sprint ahead of the AG2R La Mondiale cyclist! An ideal start to the season for Kevin and Groupama-FDJ, which saw another of its riders, Laurence Pithie, win on the same day on the other side of the world (Cadel Evans Ocean Race, Australia). An excellent teammate in the classics and in the mountains, Groupama-FDJ gave him his chance at the beginning of this year, and they were right to do so!

After this great victory, he resumed his role as teammate to accompany his leader David Gaudu in various stage races in preparation for the Tour de France: Paris - Nice, Critérium du Dauphiné, not forgetting a new national title won in Luxembourg!

The rest of his season saw him participate in two Grand Tours, the Tour de France & Vuelta a España! A difficult Tour de France for Groupama-FDJ, where their leader couldn't compete with the best. Kevin provided unwavering support throughout the three weeks and was prominently featured at the front on stage 20, where his national champion's jersey was seen at the front of the breakaway!

A brief rest in Annecy before tackling a grueling Vuelta a España! Kevin told us that the series of races was particularly tiring, and the Spanish heat took its toll. His season then concluded with participation in the World Championships in Zurich and Paris-Tours.

For 2025, Kevin hopes to have the opportunity to pursue further victories, taking on a leadership role in some one-day races, and will of course be there to provide the best possible support to his teammate David Gaudu in stage races. There's a strong chance he'll ride both Giro d'Italia. & Tour de France! No thanks to the Spanish heat!

THE LIFE OF A PRO

This evening offered a glimpse into the life of a professional cyclist. Training, nutrition, recovery, sacrifices: all topics were addressed with sincerity by Kevin Geniets.

Elite cycling is more demanding than ever. Every detail counts, both during and outside of training sessions. This constant pursuit of marginal gains transforms not only performance but also the daily lives of riders, as Kevin explained to us.

Let's start with the essentials: training. The majority of his work relies on the hours spent in the saddle. The sessions, planned in advance by his coach, vary in duration and intensity: endurance, speed, strength... Regardless of the weather conditions, even in the dead of winter in Haute-Savoie, Kevin must adhere to this rigorous program.

In parallel, he participates with his team in specific training camps throughout the season. These intensive blocks, often organized in regions with a more temperate climate such as Calpe in Spain or Tenerife, allow them to work on specific points according to the needs of each rider.

Kevin told us about his recent training camp in Tenerife. As a climber and David Gaudu's trusted lieutenant, these altitude training sessions are crucial for optimizing his endurance and stamina. Altitude improves oxygen transport capacity and increases VO2 max, essential qualities for the most demanding climbs. These camps also provide an opportunity to strengthen team cohesion with teammates and staff, a key factor in collective success.

To give you an idea of ​​the investment required, a professional cyclist covers between 25,000 and 35,000 kilometers per year, in training and competition. Added to this are weight training sessions, treatments, and long recovery periods. A life lived at breakneck speed, but meticulously planned.

Of course, nutrition plays a central role. Kevin follows a meticulously planned diet, where every food is carefully chosen. While he may occasionally allow himself a treat, such as a dinner with friends, these moments remain rare, especially before a major competition. This dietary discipline, although essential for maintaining peak physical condition, can sometimes take a toll on his morale.

Recovery, too, is a cornerstone of performance. It often means prioritizing restorative sleep over evenings with friends. During peak season, time with family and loved ones becomes scarce, and training camps, while stimulating, can exacerbate feelings of isolation.

Finally, Kevin mentioned another constraint: anti-doping controls. These require each runner to declare their place of residence daily to allow for unannounced tests. This is an essential requirement for the integrity of the sport, but it limits spontaneity and adds extra pressure.

Despite the constraints, personal sacrifices, and total commitment this career demands, Kevin doesn't doubt for a moment that it's all worth it. Being at the starting line of the biggest races, experiencing moments of euphoria with his team, pushing his limits, and representing his country on the international stage: these are privileges that outweigh the daily challenges. For Kevin, every effort, every kilometer covered, every moment of solitude finds its meaning when he crosses a finish line or shares in the joy of a team victory.

This passion and determination illustrate that, in sport as in life, the greatest achievements often arise from the greatest sacrifices.

As for what comes next, Kevin already has some ideas, but it's still too early!

Now, let's look ahead to 2025! The training camps have already started, and the first races will be here soon!
All that remains is for us to thank Kevin one last time for coming and wish him well. Wishing you all the best for the upcoming 2025 season!

And you're always welcome for your regular coffee stops at the Clubhouse 🤘

DID YOU KNOW?

Here are two original anecdotes that Kevin shared with us.

• Groupama-FDJ has a partnership with a mattress brand. Whether at training camps or competitions, a member of the staff is responsible for changing the hotel mattresses so that each rider sleeps on the same one every night.
  
• This same person is also in charge of cleaning each air conditioner, in order to reduce the risk of contamination.

We told you every detail counts!