FEATURE: Q&A: Matt Thompson heading to France to race!

After only two years since starting out in bike racing, Britain’s Matt Thompson is heading to France to race with a French team BMC Beziers

FEATURE: Q&A: Matt Thompson heading to France to race!

Q: How was your 2024 season racing abroad a lot as a junior?
Matt: I was able to get lots of overseas experience this year with the team and was able to see how professionally bike races can be organised. I looked into the French racing system and noticed how well it was structured and all the racing opportunities. I still have much to learn and develop being only two full years into bike racing. BMC Beziers (French team) are new, really ambitious and are on the up and up aiming for promotion next year. They had a breakout year in 2024 and are top of their league.

Q: What are you goals going to a French team for 2025?
Matt: I hope to get lots of experience on different parcours and develop in a supportive system. I want to attempt races with challenging, longer courses.

Q: Do you expect to see a lot of Brits in races with many others going there for next season?
Matt: I have some friends from this year who are also transferring to France next year. It will be good to recognise some faces in the new peloton and see how we develop.

Q: What part of France will you be based?
Matt: I will be based initially with my grandparents about an hour from the team HQ, but will change to the team house in the new year. I hope we get a good team spirit from this.

Q: When do you expect your season to start in 2025?
Matt: Based on the calendar, the racing begins early February with Tour du Haut Var stage race in the South so hopefully then.

Q: Are there events you are looking forward to in 2025?
Matt: I look forward to the French Cup races which will give a great opportunity to get my name out there and race the top National riders.

Q: Does the team have pre season training camps?
Matt: The team had a general assembly for new riders last week, and have multiple training and test days throughout the next few months.

Q: Racing for the Cannibal team in 2024 … what have been the highlights racing for such a high profile junior team?
Matt: I definitely felt a professional atmosphere whilst racing the UCI’s with Cannibal. The team gave me great opportunities to race at the top level. I had much bad luck and a few crashes but was happy to be consistent and improve monthly.

Cannibal was a great step up for me this year as I got to compare my level to the best juniors in large UCI races. It was a great experience to know what to expect in upcoming seasons of racing. I’m confident I have plenty of improvement coming.

Q: Racing in Belgium was good fun?
Matt: I enjoyed racing weekends in Belgium with some friends from Lee Valley throughout the later part of the season and working on race craft in these.

Q: Highlights included?
Matt: I enjoyed the Route D’Eole held early season which included an ITT, which is a favourite discipline of mine. I managed to get up the road in a break on the road stage earlier in the day. The set up was very professional with closed roads and had strong riders.

Q: How is the winter training going ?
Matt: Right now I am in France training from my grandparents house and will be staying out here more permanently after new years.

Q: How did you get into cycling as you are relatively new to the sport coming from the sport of rugby? How does it compare physically/mentally?
Matt: I used to play Rugby and some Basketball for seven years until 2022. I did not enjoy being underused in games as a winger out wide, I wanted more direct action! I’d quit rugby for 4 months, saw Pogacar on Youtube when I was 15 and thought that’s impressive, went for a few rides with my dad which I enjoyed and tried racing which was a shock! I’m still in catch up mode to many riders, but feel I can do well in a few years. There are some great riders out there. While cycling you have the opportunity to compete how you want with full effort. Cycling requires self discipline to train and stick to good habits.

Q: Would you recommend cycling to other athletes/teenagers who have a similar background to you and why?
Matt: I definitely think cycling has given me a clear direction of where I want to go as a career and has given me the chance to keep active whilst growing up. It’s a tough sport and I’d recommend ideally starting earlier than I did to get more bike skills etc. I also have had the opportunity to meet new friends and network with big names in the sport.

Thank you for the questions and shout out to the great support from the Teams I raced with and guested for so far (RRCC Rugby Racing Cycling Club, BCC, Lee Valley, Cannibal, Team Cystic Fibrosis in 2023 and 2024 and Laka, Bike Bros, Gulldford who have worked so hard on my bikes). I’ll keep you updated!

Thanks Matt and good luck in 2025… excellent Q&A!

 

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