This is a first step for Johan Blanc. Included in the Groupama-FDJ “Juniors Program” since the end of 2023, the 18-year-old from Rodez will pursue his development within the French organization. Starting next winter, he will join the ranks of “La Conti” for two seasons, with the clear goal of continuing his progression and reaching the highest level.
Two years ago, Johan Blanc couldn’t picture a future in professional road cycling for himself. Today, however, this path is becoming more and more probable. For a good reason. The 18-year-old, formerly into triathlon, has indeed shown his worth since joining the junior category last season. “After stopping triathlon, I mainly did mountain biking and cyclocross,” he explains. “I only got into road cycling seriously in my first-year junior. I’ve always loved all three disciplines, but as time went on, it became clear that I preferred road cycling.” Most importantly, he managed to translate his talent, already obvious in the woods and on the mud, onto the asphalt, as he pulled off quite a few performances and major results. “I’ve learned and improved a lot in recent years, especially by joining the team’s Juniors Program”, he says. “I really discovered what road cycling was all about; it was a rich two-year journey of learning and developing”. “During his two years in the Junior Program, Johan learned to understand the race better,” adds his current coach, Jimmy Turgis. “He already had a clear vision of the race, but now he’s capable of making the right choices almost every time.”
“I want to take the next step with La Conti”, Johan Blanc
As proof of his progress, Johan Blanc placed ninth (editor’s note: 2nd among the first-year Juniors) in the 2024 DirectVélo Junior Challenge, and he currently holds first place in the 2025 ranking after the first part of the season. Among the best on both the national and international scenes, he recently won a stage of the Gipuzkoa Klasikoa in the Basque Country and took sixth place overall in the major races that are the Course de la Paix and the Tour du Pays de Vaud. “I’m mostly satisfied with my consistency,” explains the young man. “There aren’t many events where I’ve under-performed.” A few of his races have also been done wearing the team jersey. “It’s definitely a special feeling, and it’s a big boost to give even more on the bike”, he adds. “So far, I haven’t won with this jersey, but I hope it will happen soon enough!” As a junior, he’ll get some opportunities on the Ain Bugey Valromey Tour, but Johan Blanc will have plenty more of them over the next two seasons. He will indeed continue his cycling course with the Groupama-FDJ’s colours, joining “La Conti” from 2026.
“I was lucky enough to be selected for the Juniors Program, and it’s gone really well so far,” he claims. “We’ve got very good support, and I’m enjoying being with the team in the races and training camps, so I really want to continue with them and take the next step with La Conti. It’s a process that has proven itself, and that makes me want to follow this path even more. With La Conti, I would like to continue to develop, like I have over the past two years, and obviously win races! Then, the goal will be to take the next step, from La Conti to the WorldTour. To already know about my near future gives me confidence, and it also allows me to think only about the races, taking pressure out of my mind. “He is a rider who has all the qualities required to be a high-level athlete,” says Jimmy Turgis. “He puts a lot of commitment into his development. He has everything it takes to succeed. He is a very nice guy to discuss with, he’s very attentive, which is every coach’s dream. His next two seasons with La Conti will allow him to confirm his potential.”
“He’s a calm and thoughtful person”, Jimmy Turgis.
Alongside his studies, which will lead him to a business school starting in September, Johan Blanc will also seek to further refine his profile as he enters the U23 category. “For sure, what I prefer are the long climbs,” he maintains. “I think I’m more of a climber, but thanks to my background in cyclocross and mountain biking, I’m also quite versatile.” Which is also why he especially looks up to riders like Mathieu van der Poel and Tom Pidcock: “They can do a bit of everything, and I find them quite inspiring because of their level and what they show.” “We already knew his climbing skills, but this year, he’s also revealed himself as a puncher,” confirms Jimmy. “He’s also impressed us in the time trial; he’s made a lot of progress, and it’s something he enjoys working on. Apart from that, he’s a proper leader. He’s calm and thoughtful, not flamboyant, but when he speaks, his teammates listen because they know it will be relevant. He’s a good road captain who’s there to help others if the profile isn’t in his favor.”
By making the transition from the Juniors Program to “La Conti,” Johan Blanc becomes the ninth rider to use this “bridge” after Eddy Le Huitouze, Lenny Martinez, Colin Savioz, Jens Verbrugghe, Eliott Boulet, Titouan Fontaine, Baptiste Grégoire and Karl Sagnier.
