News: Pickering & Watson sign for FDJ Conti

Under 23 Sam Watson and junior Finlay Pickering have signed for the UCI Conti team Groupama-FDJ which has helped Lewis Askey and Jake Stewart into the WorldTour ranks

News: Pickering & Watson sign for FDJ Conti

Under 23 Sam Watson and junior Finlay Pickering have signed for the UCI Conti team Groupama-FDJ which has helped Lewis Askey and Jake Stewart into the WorldTour ranks

“The goal for us is to attract the best riders in the world” ”said Jérôme Gannat, manager of La Conti Groupama-FDJ. “We welcome two Brits and an Australian that shows that we are attracted to international riders. I think for them, riders like Jake Stewart and Lewis Askey are examples of what they can achieve.

Jérôme Gannat added “Sam Watson has a profile close to that of Lewis Askey. He is quick in a sprint, but he has other strengths as well, in particular the typical puncheur type efforts. Finlay Pickering leaves the junior category and for him, it will be a year where the climber has to test himself in different races.

Samuel Watson: Attracted by the Classics, Sam Watson was third in the Junior Gent-Wevelgem in 2019 and eighth in the Junior Paris-Roubaix and won a stage in the Kreiz Breizh Elites this season. “I’m not a pure sprinter, nor a pure climber, but I go well everywhere. I can maybe define myself as a Classics rider. I will join one of the best U23 teams so it’s a great opportunity. Jake Stewart and Lewis Askey, who I know well, recommended the team to me. I want to be one of the best in my class and I know the team can help me get there.”

Finlay Pickering: “I think this is the perfect stepping stone to achieve my goals”
Second in the GP Rüebliland last September, Finlay Pickering (Fensham Howes-MAS Design) also took eighth place in the Junior Time Trial of the World Championships, despite a crash early on. “I am very happy to join the Groupama-FDJ Continental team. I spoke with the British riders of the team, in particular Lewis Askey and Joe Pidcock, and I think it is the perfect springboard to achieve my goals . I want to be the best rider I can, be able to exploit my potential to the fullest. I think I’m a general classification rider, I like it when it goes up and I do pretty well in the time trial. I can’t wait to test myself in races like the Baby Giro, the Tour de l’Avenir or the Tour de la Vallée d’Aosta so that I can really know which rider I am.”

Also joining the team with the Brits is Aussie Jensen Plowright.

Sam Watson Under 23
1st Tim James Memorial Road Race (E/1/2/3)
1st: Kreiz Breizh Elites (UCI/2.2) (Stage 3)
3rd: 17ème Tour Alsace (UCI/2.2) (Stage 5)
4th: Otley GP
1st Crimson Performance Road Race
7th: Gran Premio della Liberazione (UCI/1.2U)

Finlay Pickering (Junior in 2021)
1st: British Junior Men’s Time Trial Championship
2nd: Grand Prix Rüebliland (UCI/2.1) Overall
7th: Junior Tour of Wales Overall
1st: Bath Road Club Junior Road Race
2nd: Junior CiCLE Classic