Marc Madiot once told Jeannie Longo that cycling isn’t for women on live TV
The former French pro's comments are from 1986, but still astounding to hear
“Seeing a woman dancing is very pretty, seeing a woman on a bike, it’s ugly, I say it!,” former professional cyclist, now manager of Groupama–FDJ Marc Madiot once said to Jeannie Longo. Longo is a former 25-time French champion and 13-time world champion.
In the televised interview, Madiot kept telling Longo that women had no spot in pro cycling.
“Yes! Yes! I’m against women’s cycling…this sport must have an aesthetic side,” he tells her.
Jeannie Longo then says that cyclists “cannot say that tjey love women when they do not respect their aspirations”.
“If they want to ride a bike, that’s their problem, it’s not mine,” Madiot declares.
The exchange keeps going, then Madiot talks about female cyclist’s bodies. “You, you are ugly! I’m sorry!” he says, right to her face.
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Madiot then backtracks…well sort of. “No, no. I’m attacking women’s cycling, that’s all.” He then decides to add a few more gems, when he explains just how he envisions women’s cycling. “I will watch women’s cycling the day they put on jerseys that are a little prettier, shorts a little prettier and shoes a little prettier. ”
Former Tour de France winner Laurent Fignon is also there, and he decides to add to the conversation. “I’m not interested in women’s cycling,:” he says. Fignon will explain on set that he does not find that women’s cycling is “aesthetic,” before adding that he did not prefer to watch it.
You can hear the crowd boo Madiot as he tells off Longo, and the commentator try and reign him in, but he just keeps going. Of course, you’d think Madiot has changed his tone since then, since he now runs not only a men’s pro team. but a women’s–and one of the best in the world.
