'We wouldn't enter him in a sportive': Nacer Bouhanni's training, form, and attitude slammed by Cofidis boss
Bouhanni's Tour de France spot under threat
Nacer Bouhanni has once again found himself on the wrong side of the Cofidis management after team boss Cédric Vasseur said that the so-called star sprinter wouldn't even make the team for a sportive.
Days after Bouhanni abandoned the Circuit de la Sarthe just 100km into the opening stage, Vasseur spoke to L'Equipe where he slammed the sprinter's form, training, and attitude.
"Nacer did not live up to his role as leader [at Circuit de la Sarthe]," Vasseur told the French sports daily. "He let his team-mates alone in the rain.
"A captain must be the last to leave the ship so Nacer must be able to finish the races, that's the minimum we ask. We can not trust him anymore. I would not put him at the start of a cyclosportive."
Watch: Tour de France 2018 route guide
A divisive figure among riders and fans, Bouhanni has endured a tempestuous start to the year, first clashing with team bosses after they decided not to include him in the team's line up at Milan-San Remo, and then withdrawing him from the Volta a Catalunya after the opening stage.
Vasseur said that Bouhanni's claim that he was ready to race Milan-San Remo was based on a single hour-and-a-half training ride, and after pulling him out of Catalunya the team sent him to undergo physiological tests - the results of which showed that Bouhanni was well short of racing form.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"Based on physiological tests, he is not in the top 10 of the team today," Vasseur continued, saying that Bouhanni's place in the squad's Tour de France line-up could be at risk. "We do our best to tell him this, but it's up to him to get to work.
Vasseur also said that as the team's leader and biggest name sprinter, Bouhanni had been expected to pick up 50 per cent of the team's victories in 2018. However the Frenchman is yet to pick up a win so far this season making him the most high-profile sprinter to still be without a victory in 2018.
Bouhanni's next chance to regain favour with team bosses should come at Eschborn-Frankfurt on May 5.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
-
Jonas Vingegaard is 'happy' while Tadej Pogačar calls Tour de France 2025 route 'brutal'
Visma-Lease a Bike sports director Grischa Niermann says course 'certainly appeals' to Dutch squad
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Do cycling jackets have to get a lot worse for the environment to get a bit better?
Will our waterproof cycling rain jackets still keep out the elements now that the old way of manufacturing is being banned
By Hannah Bussey Published
-
'I admit my mistake to change course, but there is nothing intentional': Nacer Bouhanni apologises to Jake Stewart after irregular sprint
Nacer Bouhanni has apologised to British rider Jake Stewart after shoving him into the barriers at the Cholet-Pays de la Loire on Sunday (March 28).
By Tim Bonville-Ginn Published
-
Nacer Bouhanni said he would have won Tour de la Provence sprint if he wasn't pushed into barriers by Ballerini
Nacer Bouhanni claims he would have won the final stage of the Tour de la Provence if it wasn't for Davide Ballerini forcing him towards the barriers
By Tim Bonville-Ginn Published
-
Nacer Bouhanni is back with powerful win on stage four of Saudi Tour 2020
Nacer Bouhanni put his winning drought behind him with an emphatic victory on stage four of the Saudi Tour.
By Alex Ballinger Published
-
Nacer Bouhanni wins as echelons wreak havoc on Vuelta a España 2018 stage six
Thibaut Pinot and Wilco Kelderman the biggest losers overall in frenetic finale of stage six
By Richard Windsor Published
-
Nacer Bouhanni 'disappointed and very unhappy' after missing out on Tour de France selection
Having been left out of Cofidis' team for the Tour de France Nacer Bouhanni has voiced his displeasure at the team management's decision.
By Henry Robertshaw Published
-
Nacer Bouhanni reportedly involved in 'violent altercation' with Cofidis DS on team bus after race
Nacer Bouhanni's has reportedly been involved in a "violent altercation" with one of the Cofidis' sports directors on the team bus after a recent race.
By Henry Robertshaw Published
-
Cofidis pull Nacer Bouhanni out of Volta a Catalunya due to ongoing illness
Cofidis have pulled Nacer Bouhanni out of the Volta a Catalunya after the opening stage with the team saying that he is continuing to suffer from illness.
By Henry Robertshaw Published
-
Nacer Bouhanni 'hugely disappointed' after Cofidis management decide he's too ill to race Milan-San Remo
Nacer Bouhanni has expressed his disappointment at the decision of the Cofidis team management to withdraw him from Saturday's Milan-San Remo.
By Henry Robertshaw Published