Tour de France supporter without headphones or power sensors Marc Madiot has suggested removing them for the 2026 event’s grand finale. With three major stages in the Alps and a battle in Paris, the Groupama-FDJ boss would like to see an explanation between the favorites without technological assistance.
When it comes to ranting about the state of world cycling, Marc Madiot doesn’t hold his tongue. Those attending the 2026 Tour de France with the Groupama-FDJ team expect an excellent explanation between the leaders of the general classification of the 18th stage this Thursday between Voiron and Orcières Merlette. There was also a big drawback.
“I think we will have a good finish. My only regret is that everyone has power sensors and headphones,” condemned the former French rider from RMC Sport. “Because by the end of the Tour, you take off the headphones and the power sensors, and then they have to look each other in the eye. That would be nice.”
>> Follow the 18th stage of the Tour de France 2026 live
Madiot, protector of man from machines
Instead of this technological arms race, Marc Madiot wants to be an advocate for a more authentic cycling experience, in which the riders’ feelings and knowledge of the race are crucial. Renewing the hypothesis of a final without headphones, the boss of the Groupama-FDJ United team justified his position.
“The purity of the gesture, the person who takes control of the machine. That’s what interests me in cycling. It’s mental strength and personal dedication,” continued Marc Madiot. “Power sensors, headphones and all the productivity hacks…”
And the RMC consultant added: “I have nothing against training, but in racing I want the man to be naked in the face of the effort, in front of the competitors looking at each other… Like in a boxing ring. There are no headphones in the boxing ring.”
“I want the smell of chaos in the ring”
A real confrontation between runners, not a race in which team leaders determine their strategy, kilometer by kilometer. From here we can even consider real changes in the rankings between the favorites, who are less focused on marginal gains and more on dueling with their rivals in the peloton.
“It would change behavior, it could change behavior,” noted the two-time Paris-Roubaix winner in 1985 and 1991. “We can clearly see there that they all stick to their rhythm and don’t turn up the power two watts too much so as not to end up in the red. I want something different. I want the ring to smell like chaos.”
Before finishing: “I have no idea who will benefit from this. Perhaps one day it will benefit the rider, and the next day it will put him at a disadvantage. But the goal of the game is to reach the end. (…) We will have a spectacle, but in terms of entertainment we can achieve much more. I definitely hope that one day we will achieve this with reforms.”