FDJ.fr manager Marc Madiot has never been soft spoken and this means that when he talks, people usually listen. His latest message: French races below WorldTour status, such as the Châteauroux Classic de l’indre, will disappear unless cycling protects races in its “four historic countries” (France, Spain, Belgium and Italy).

Madiot believes that foreign teams are not treating the Coupe de France races seriously and not giving them any respect and this is why they are disappearing.

“When Omega Pharma-QuickStep promises to come with [Mark] Cavendish and he isn’t there, it’s proof that the teams don’t give a damn. One thing interests them: dough,” Madiot said. “There’s also a form of French bashing. Because something is French, it’s shit. Take Maxime Bouet for example. He’s leaving Ag2r-La Mondiale to go to Lefevere [QuickStep] and he has the impression that he’s signing for Barça.”

“Does he know what he’s going to find over there? I’ve just taken on Steve Morabito [from BMC]. We’ve chatted and I maintain that BMC doesn’t do any more than us, perhaps even less. We need to preserve and promote what we have here: our teams, our riders, our races.”

Madiot points to the example of Spain, who have lost various races over the years and this has led to a lack of sponsors for teams. The end result was only one team from Spain in both the WorldTour and Pro Continental level: Movistar and Caja Rural respectively.

Madiot disagrees with the new reforms for cycling that will come into place by 2017, which would prevent higher ranked teams like his FDJ,fr team taking part in lower ranked races.

“That project should be forgotten. From what I know about it, everything will be reviewed,” Madiot said. “National protectionism should be enacted. We can find an arrangement that would allow greater participation from foreign teams in French races.”

Madiot believes that foreign teams who wish to ride in the Tour de France should earn their ticket by participating in smaller French races throughout the year. “For example, a few years ago, Skil-Shimano, who weren’t in the WorldTour, wanted to get an invitation to the Tour so they did all of the races in France. Once they were well ensconced, we didn’t see them again. That’s not good.”

In an interview with Pedale! earlier this year, Madito pointed out that English was the language used by directeur sportifs on the eve of the Coupe de France races and he returned to this point in his recent interview with L’Equipe.

“Whether you like it or not, France is the centre of the cycling world,” he said. “So one, you speak French because it’s the official language of the UCI, and two, you come and race on the French circuit.”

“The four historic countries of cycling are France, Italy, Spain and Belgium. They need to be respected. Our bedrock needs to be protected. I’m a provocateur but that’s because I have to sound the alarm.”

He also criticized the UCI and both past president Pat McQuaid and current president Brian Cookson for their attitude to non-WorldTour races in Europe and also for allowing cycling teams to incur the cost of having to send riders and bikes over to the USA for the World Championships Team Time Trial.

“I’m scared stiff when I see that I have to hand over €70,000 to go and do a World Championships Team Time Trial next year in the United States. All of that to clown around on the telly for ten seconds! But we’re obliged to go because we’re in the WorldTour. And these same Ricains [Yanks – ed.] are the first to come and complain when they don’t hit €2,500 for participating in a race in France.”

The Frenchman also had strong words for races like the Tour of Beijing and other events held outside of Europe, but he did have nothing but praise for the Tour Down Under and the Quebec and Montreal GPs.

“I’ve been in cycling for 35, 40 years and I’ve realised one thing: anything that’s artificial doesn’t last, even if you put dough behind it,” Madiot said. “China [the Tour of Beijing] is dead. The Leeds Classic [the 1990s World Cup race] is dead. To last, you need to have local roots. Canada and Australia, they work because there’s an identity. There’s public interest and the locals participate.”

Madiot is the president of France’s Ligue Nationale du Cyclisme and he plans to speak at a UCI seminar in December, but he thinks his words will be ignored regardless of what he says: “I know they won’t give a damn.”

He will also speak to the French riders about their responsibilities to help protect French races.

“We’re going to organise a meeting with their union and talk to them about their responsibilities. And their attitude too,” Madiot said. “At the presentation of the Tour, [Marcel] Kittel turned up in a suit. What class! We, the French, looked like nothing."

Scathing words from a man who may seem to be a moan. But he is trying to save cycling in France and he is making the right noises to do so.