Thirteen years professional and still as keen and motivated as ever to perform.  It certainly says a lot about the character of the man who has claimed victory in both Paris Roubaix and Paris Tours, and can still turn up at the smaller French races gee’d up and ready to race.   

Fred is a real leader in La Francaise des Jeux, not so much as in what he says at team meetings or the advice he gives the younger rides, but more in the he conducts himself around the races and the way in which he races.  Obviously with experience a rider learns how to read a race better and better, and this is where one of Fred’s biggest strength lies.  He may be 36 now and sometimes doesn’t quite have the legs to follow at crunch time in the big races but he will put himself in the position more often than not to contest a race and if the legs are there on the day he’ll be ready to do battle. 

This year I was lucky enough to get a start in the most prestigious one day classic in cycling, Paris Roubaix.  For me the race was all over before it really began but it was the experience of the build up to the race that was invaluable.  Doing three days of reconnaissance over the pave of northern France with guys like Fred and Christophe Mengin was where you really learn a thing or two about pro cycling.  When pass through the formidable pave section of the ‘Arenberg forest’ and they tell you to go 500m on the right, then 1km on the left, then up the middle to the finish, you know these boys have been around for while and know what they are talking about. 

As a father of three young girls, Fred tells me now when he comes away to races its to recover and get some sleep, virtually the complete opposite to a neo pro like myself.  Race life is completely second nature for him, where home life requires just as much effort though with a lot more interrupted nights with young ones doing what they do best. 

Fred’s dry witty humor often keeps the crew entertained at the dinner table even when the day’s race didn’t go quite as planned.  I’m sure he will be missed by many when he hangs up the velo, but for now he’s still an important part of the team and enjoying life as a cyclist.