How do French riders view the increasing use of English?

Question

Accepted Answer

French riders increasingly see English as a practical fit for team work and adaptation
French riders generally view the increasing use of English as something they can adapt to, even if it starts as a “headache” when joining a new team. Dorian Godon said switching to English was initially difficult but that riders “quickly adapt,” while Kevin Vauquelin described the change positively because speaking English helps teammates with different nationalities work together and “see things differently” from a French mindset. For some, like Warren Barguil, learning English has been tied to everyday communication with teammates rather than formal lessons.
English becomes part of day-to-day team communication
Godon said that when he moved from French team Decathlon to British outfit Netcompany Ineos in the close season, it was “a bit of a headache” at first, but he still expected quick adjustment. Vauquelin, also coming from a French team (Arkea-Samsic) before joining Netcompany Ineos, said English “allows us to work together” in a squad with many nationalities. He framed it as a broader shift in perspective, adding that it is a change from the “French mindset.”
Learning English is often described as easier through teammates and early schooling
Bruno Armirail’s experience shows how the shift can be tied to team changes: he started taking English lessons after moving from Decathlon CMA CGM to Dutch team Visma-Lease a Bike. Barguil described learning English by speaking to teammates when he began his professional career in 2013 at Dutch team Picnic-PostNL (then called Argos-Shimano), saying he picked it up “off the cuff” and found it “a lot easier” than taking lessons. Many French riders also learn English at school, which reduces the culture shock when joining teams where English is used.
English is treated as normal even beyond international squads
Press interviews at bike races are often held in English, including events in France, which means riders encounter the language in public settings as well as within teams. Godon also said that “already last year, with Decathlon, we spoke quite a lot of English,” suggesting the shift is not limited to riders moving into fully international environments. This wider use reinforces the perception that English is increasingly part of professional cycling’s routine.
Riders connect the language shift to cohesion and different viewpoints
Vauquelin’s comments linked English directly to team cohesion, pointing to the presence of multiple nationalities at Netcompany Ineos and the need for a shared working language. He also described the switch as offering “different” ways of seeing things, calling it potentially “a blessing in disguise.” In that framing, English use is not only a communication tool but also a way to experience perspectives outside what he associated with French approaches.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

How do French riders view the increasing use of English?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends