274:. Rumours also arose that the company was a smokescreen organisation for "an American sect". The team's manager, Patrick Valcke, later stated: "One day it emerged that the boss of the team had been part of some Evangelist movement in the USA. In the US they were used to these kinds of religious but it was really foreign to the public in France. It became an obsession for the media for weeks on end." Due to the negative news coverage, sales for Le Groupement fell by 35 per cent during the first two months of 1995. The accusations and financial woes had led to a threat by Le Groupement to end sponsorship as early as March, but the team continued for the time being. In late June, negotiations were started to merge the squad with
1003:
652:
855:
966:
744:
218:
travel for the second team meeting and flew to Paris instead of Lille. Picked up by Millar, he arrived late and both riders were sent to sleep without food as punishment. When Obree failed to attend the New Year's training camp in the Alps, he was fired on 1 January 1995, just hours into the official beginning of his contract. Team management gave "unprofessional conduct" as the reason for his dismissal. In a 2012 interview with the newspaper
1090:
1040:
929:
892:
818:
781:
707:
615:
578:
541:
504:
467:
430:
393:
356:
319:
269:
From the very beginning, the team hit financial difficulties. The main reason for this was negative publicity directed at their sponsor, Le
Groupement. The company's business relied mainly on 50,000 individual independent salespeople, selling goods directly to their friends and family. This business
286:
without guaranteering payment. Valcke refused and informed the riders less than a week before the start of the Tour that the team had ceased to exist. This left the riders to search for new teams or, as was the case for Millar and van Poppel, retire from the sport. The team's starting spot at the
217:
when the team was set up, was recruited into the team by Millar in what would have been his first road cycling engagement. Obree missed the first meeting in
Florida, held shortly after the death of his brother, then went on vacation to the USA. He misunderstood the team's directions on where to
1442:
1525:
256:
in June 1995, but this turned out to be the last race for the team, which folded two days later. Over the short course of its existence, the team won eight races, including three victories for German sprinter
1351:
282:, director of the Tour de France announced that a merged team would not be granted access to the race. The sponsor demanded from the team management to have the riders race the
174:. Le Groupement was a door-to-door sales organisation, operating exclusively in France. The initial budget was 30 million francs, or $ 6 million. Their star signing was
183:
149:
186:
just days after he signed the contract. Other notable riders included former Tour de France mountain classification winner Robert Millar (now known as
248:
with
Leblanc, but he fell ill and without him, the team did not perform well. The lack of performance led the team to turn down its invitation to the
1106:
712:
435:
509:
934:
546:
1650:
1645:
170:
1640:
1238:
228:. According to Obree, the team asked him to set aside £2,000 of his salary for a "medical back-up programme" for purposes of doping.
1093:
270:
model, based on "motivational sessions and individual investment in the company's retail goods" was deemed by many to constitute a
253:
1272:
1655:
1402:
1621:
295:
The following is a list of riders on the Le
Groupement squad during the 1995 season, with age given for 1 January 1995.
245:
1089:
168:
The set up of the team in July 1994 was done through a holding company called Sport
Competition, for the sponsor,
1352:"Interview: Frozen out of road cycling for not doping, Graeme Obree is vindicated and ready for a new challenge"
237:
225:
1609:
1553:
1111:
1578:
1485:
198:. The team held its first meeting in early December 1994 in Florida and a second from 21 December in
1132:
620:
249:
1115:
657:
241:
971:
195:
1206:
8:
1141:
1136:
472:
361:
283:
179:
141:
1277:
1173:
398:
279:
148:
against its main sponsor led to its folding. The team was spearheaded by then reigning
1617:
324:
87:
140:
that existed from the beginning of the 1995 season until a week before the start of
1102:
1147:
1407:
1008:
749:
271:
145:
1126:
1121:
1045:
583:
258:
1634:
1097:
860:
187:
224:, Obree alleged that the reason for his firing was his unwillingness to use
1356:
897:
275:
220:
210:
191:
137:
823:
786:
214:
175:
152:
1447:
1583:
1490:
1239:"Former General Manager of Le Groupement looking to set up new team"
1530:
1307:
199:
264:
689:
301:
287:
Tour de France was then ironically given to Aki–Gipiemme.
144:
in June 1995. Financial difficulties and allegations of a
1506:
1371:
1468:
1466:
1331:
1319:
1297:
1295:
171:
Le
Groupement Européen des Professionnels du Marketing
1463:
1423:
1383:
1292:
1632:
1266:
1264:
1262:
1260:
1273:"Putting a Happy Face On Cycling Team's Woes"
1445:[Van Poppel's job again in danger].
1257:
1403:"Robert Millar's 1995 national champs win"
184:1994 UCI Road World Championship Road Race
1233:
1231:
1229:
1227:
265:Issues for sponsoring company and folding
1094:British National Road Race Championships
254:British National Road Race Championships
1554:"Startlist for the 1995 Tour de France"
1349:
1343:
1201:
1199:
1197:
1195:
163:
1633:
1224:
1651:Defunct cycling teams based in France
1608:
1528:[Van Poppel does not start].
1512:
1472:
1429:
1389:
1377:
1337:
1325:
1313:
1301:
866:
1646:Cycling teams disestablished in 1995
1534:(in Dutch). 27 June 1995. p. 10
1451:(in Dutch). 8 March 1995. p. 21
1443:"Van Poppels baan opnieuw in gevaar"
1192:
252:. Robert Millar took victory at the
1581:[21 teams and 189 riders].
1488:[Le Groupement continues].
1270:
977:
13:
1120:Quatre Jours de l'Aisne, stage 2,
755:
14:
1667:
1641:Cycling teams established in 1995
178:, who had finished fourth at the
1350:English, Tom (4 November 2012).
1088:
1038:
1001:
964:
927:
890:
853:
816:
779:
742:
705:
650:
613:
576:
539:
502:
465:
428:
391:
354:
317:
236:The team initially targeted the
1602:
1571:
1546:
1518:
1478:
1435:
1395:
1051:
1014:
663:
231:
205:
1166:
940:
903:
829:
792:
718:
626:
589:
552:
515:
478:
441:
404:
367:
330:
290:
1:
1656:Cycling teams based in France
1579:"21 equipos y 189 corredores"
1271:Abt, Samuel (20 April 1995).
1160:
1078:
7:
1494:(in Spanish). 31 March 1995
1144:, stage 10, Emmanuel Hubert
993:30 September 1962 (aged 32)
882:13 September 1958 (aged 36)
771:22 September 1969 (aged 25)
297:
226:performance enhancing drugs
10:
1672:
1614:In Search of Robert Millar
1112:Grand Prix La Marseillaise
734:30 December 1970 (aged 24)
531:29 February 1972 (aged 22)
383:19 December 1962 (aged 32)
346:19 November 1966 (aged 28)
158:
142:that year's Tour de France
1587:(in Spanish). 6 July 1995
1316:, pp. 281 & 284.
1035:
998:
961:
956:3 December 1972 (aged 22)
924:
887:
850:
813:
776:
739:
702:
697:
694:
688:
647:
642:14 October 1971 (aged 23)
610:
573:
536:
499:
494:18 January 1972 (aged 22)
462:
425:
388:
351:
314:
309:
306:
300:
119:
114:
106:
98:
93:
83:
75:
60:
45:
37:
29:
24:
1486:"Le Groupement continúa"
1133:Grand Prix du Midi Libre
845:13 August 1966 (aged 28)
692:
686:
304:
150:road race World Champion
1616:. London: HarperSport.
1526:"Van Poppel start niet"
1067:6 August 1967 (aged 27)
1030:31 March 1963 (aged 31)
808:4 August 1966 (aged 28)
1150:, stage 7, Marcel Wüst
1129:, stage 6, Marcel Wüst
919:10 July 1963 (aged 31)
605:15 July 1967 (aged 27)
568:14 July 1971 (aged 23)
420:12 June 1964 (aged 30)
238:Ardennes classic races
1243:thebikecomesfirst.com
679:2 June 1969 (aged 25)
457:3 July 1971 (aged 23)
1174:"Le Groupement 1995"
972:Jean-Paul van Poppel
246:Liège–Bastogne–Liège
196:Jean-Paul van Poppel
164:Founding of the team
16:Defunct cycling team
1515:, pp. 290–291.
1380:, pp. 286–287.
1340:, pp. 283–285.
1328:, pp. 273–274.
1245:. 23 September 2016
1211:procyclingstats.com
1137:Thierry Bourguignon
362:Thierry Bourguignon
284:1995 Tour de France
180:1994 Tour de France
21:
1278:The New York Times
1178:siteducyclisme.net
1116:Stéphane Hennebert
658:Stéphane Hennebert
399:Philippe Bouvatier
280:Jean-Marie Leblanc
250:1995 Giro d'Italia
242:La Flèche Wallonne
19:
1623:978-0-00-723502-5
1156:
1076:
1075:
1072:
1071:
684:
683:
325:Dominique Arnould
194:and the sprinter
131:
130:
115:Team name history
1663:
1627:
1597:
1596:
1594:
1592:
1575:
1569:
1568:
1566:
1564:
1550:
1544:
1543:
1541:
1539:
1522:
1516:
1510:
1504:
1503:
1501:
1499:
1482:
1476:
1470:
1461:
1460:
1458:
1456:
1439:
1433:
1427:
1421:
1420:
1418:
1416:
1399:
1393:
1387:
1381:
1375:
1369:
1368:
1366:
1364:
1347:
1341:
1335:
1329:
1323:
1317:
1311:
1305:
1299:
1290:
1289:
1287:
1285:
1268:
1255:
1254:
1252:
1250:
1235:
1222:
1221:
1219:
1217:
1203:
1190:
1189:
1187:
1185:
1170:
1154:
1142:Tour de l'Avenir
1092:
1068:
1066:
1064:
1056:
1055:
1053:
1044:
1042:
1041:
1031:
1029:
1027:
1019:
1018:
1016:
1007:
1005:
1004:
994:
992:
990:
982:
981:
979:
970:
968:
967:
957:
955:
953:
945:
944:
942:
933:
931:
930:
920:
918:
916:
908:
907:
905:
896:
894:
893:
883:
881:
879:
871:
870:
868:
859:
857:
856:
846:
844:
842:
834:
833:
831:
822:
820:
819:
809:
807:
805:
797:
796:
794:
785:
783:
782:
772:
770:
768:
760:
759:
757:
748:
746:
745:
735:
733:
731:
723:
722:
720:
711:
709:
708:
690:
680:
678:
676:
668:
667:
665:
656:
654:
653:
643:
641:
639:
631:
630:
628:
621:Frédéric Guesdon
619:
617:
616:
606:
604:
602:
594:
593:
591:
582:
580:
579:
569:
567:
565:
557:
556:
554:
545:
543:
542:
532:
530:
528:
520:
519:
517:
508:
506:
505:
495:
493:
491:
483:
482:
480:
471:
469:
468:
458:
456:
454:
446:
445:
443:
434:
432:
431:
421:
419:
417:
409:
408:
406:
397:
395:
394:
384:
382:
380:
372:
371:
369:
360:
358:
357:
347:
345:
343:
335:
334:
332:
323:
321:
320:
302:
298:
213:, holder of the
71:
69:
56:
54:
25:Team information
22:
18:
1671:
1670:
1666:
1665:
1664:
1662:
1661:
1660:
1631:
1630:
1624:
1605:
1600:
1590:
1588:
1577:
1576:
1572:
1562:
1560:
1558:cyclingnews.com
1552:
1551:
1547:
1537:
1535:
1524:
1523:
1519:
1511:
1507:
1497:
1495:
1484:
1483:
1479:
1471:
1464:
1454:
1452:
1441:
1440:
1436:
1428:
1424:
1414:
1412:
1401:
1400:
1396:
1388:
1384:
1376:
1372:
1362:
1360:
1348:
1344:
1336:
1332:
1324:
1320:
1312:
1308:
1300:
1293:
1283:
1281:
1269:
1258:
1248:
1246:
1237:
1236:
1225:
1215:
1213:
1207:"Le Groupement"
1205:
1204:
1193:
1183:
1181:
1172:
1171:
1167:
1163:
1158:
1148:Herald Sun Tour
1107:Emmanuel Hubert
1081:
1062:
1060:
1059:
1049:
1039:
1037:
1036:
1025:
1023:
1022:
1012:
1002:
1000:
999:
988:
986:
985:
975:
965:
963:
962:
951:
949:
948:
938:
928:
926:
925:
914:
912:
911:
901:
891:
889:
888:
877:
875:
874:
864:
854:
852:
851:
840:
838:
837:
827:
817:
815:
814:
803:
801:
800:
790:
780:
778:
777:
766:
764:
763:
753:
743:
741:
740:
729:
727:
726:
716:
713:Emmanuel Hubert
706:
704:
703:
674:
672:
671:
661:
651:
649:
648:
637:
635:
634:
624:
614:
612:
611:
600:
598:
597:
587:
577:
575:
574:
563:
561:
560:
550:
540:
538:
537:
526:
524:
523:
513:
503:
501:
500:
489:
487:
486:
476:
466:
464:
463:
452:
450:
449:
439:
436:Dominique Bozzi
429:
427:
426:
415:
413:
412:
402:
392:
390:
389:
378:
376:
375:
365:
355:
353:
352:
341:
339:
338:
328:
318:
316:
315:
293:
267:
234:
208:
166:
161:
127:
122:
107:Team manager(s)
99:General manager
67:
65:
52:
50:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1669:
1659:
1658:
1653:
1648:
1643:
1629:
1628:
1622:
1610:Moore, Richard
1604:
1601:
1599:
1598:
1570:
1545:
1517:
1505:
1477:
1475:, p. 287.
1462:
1434:
1432:, p. 283.
1422:
1411:. 25 June 2008
1408:Cycling Weekly
1394:
1392:, p. 288.
1382:
1370:
1342:
1330:
1318:
1306:
1304:, p. 291.
1291:
1256:
1223:
1191:
1164:
1162:
1159:
1152:
1151:
1145:
1139:
1130:
1124:
1118:
1109:
1100:
1086:
1082:
1080:
1077:
1074:
1073:
1070:
1069:
1057:
1033:
1032:
1020:
1009:Michel Vermote
996:
995:
983:
959:
958:
946:
922:
921:
909:
885:
884:
872:
848:
847:
835:
811:
810:
798:
774:
773:
761:
750:Oleg Kozlitine
737:
736:
724:
700:
699:
698:Date of birth
696:
693:
687:
685:
682:
681:
669:
645:
644:
632:
608:
607:
595:
571:
570:
558:
534:
533:
521:
510:Laurent Davion
497:
496:
484:
473:Jérôme Chiotti
460:
459:
447:
423:
422:
410:
386:
385:
373:
349:
348:
336:
312:
311:
310:Date of birth
308:
305:
292:
289:
272:pyramid scheme
266:
263:
233:
230:
207:
204:
165:
162:
160:
157:
146:pyramid scheme
129:
128:
125:
123:
120:
117:
116:
112:
111:
110:Patrick Valcke
108:
104:
103:
100:
96:
95:
91:
90:
85:
81:
80:
77:
73:
72:
62:
58:
57:
47:
43:
42:
39:
35:
34:
31:
27:
26:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1668:
1657:
1654:
1652:
1649:
1647:
1644:
1642:
1639:
1638:
1636:
1625:
1619:
1615:
1611:
1607:
1606:
1586:
1585:
1580:
1574:
1559:
1555:
1549:
1533:
1532:
1527:
1521:
1514:
1509:
1493:
1492:
1487:
1481:
1474:
1469:
1467:
1450:
1449:
1444:
1438:
1431:
1426:
1410:
1409:
1404:
1398:
1391:
1386:
1379:
1374:
1359:
1358:
1353:
1346:
1339:
1334:
1327:
1322:
1315:
1310:
1303:
1298:
1296:
1280:
1279:
1274:
1267:
1265:
1263:
1261:
1244:
1240:
1234:
1232:
1230:
1228:
1212:
1208:
1202:
1200:
1198:
1196:
1179:
1175:
1169:
1165:
1157:
1149:
1146:
1143:
1140:
1138:
1134:
1131:
1128:
1125:
1123:
1119:
1117:
1113:
1110:
1108:
1104:
1103:Tour de l'Ain
1101:
1099:
1098:Robert Millar
1095:
1091:
1087:
1084:
1083:
1058:
1047:
1034:
1021:
1010:
997:
984:
973:
960:
947:
936:
935:Anthony Rokia
923:
910:
899:
886:
873:
862:
861:Robert Millar
849:
836:
825:
812:
799:
788:
775:
762:
751:
738:
725:
714:
701:
691:
670:
659:
646:
633:
622:
609:
596:
585:
572:
559:
548:
547:David Derique
535:
522:
511:
498:
485:
474:
461:
448:
437:
424:
411:
400:
387:
374:
363:
350:
337:
326:
313:
303:
299:
296:
288:
285:
281:
277:
273:
262:
260:
255:
251:
247:
243:
239:
229:
227:
223:
222:
216:
212:
203:
201:
197:
193:
189:
188:Philippa York
185:
181:
177:
173:
172:
156:
154:
151:
147:
143:
139:
136:was a French
135:
134:Le Groupement
126:Le Groupement
124:
118:
113:
109:
105:
101:
97:
94:Key personnel
92:
89:
86:
82:
78:
76:Discipline(s)
74:
63:
59:
48:
44:
40:
36:
32:
28:
23:
20:Le Groupement
1613:
1603:Bibliography
1589:. Retrieved
1582:
1573:
1561:. Retrieved
1557:
1548:
1536:. Retrieved
1529:
1520:
1508:
1496:. Retrieved
1489:
1480:
1453:. Retrieved
1446:
1437:
1425:
1413:. Retrieved
1406:
1397:
1385:
1373:
1361:. Retrieved
1357:The Scotsman
1355:
1345:
1333:
1321:
1309:
1282:. Retrieved
1276:
1247:. Retrieved
1242:
1214:. Retrieved
1210:
1182:. Retrieved
1177:
1168:
1153:
1135:, stage 2b,
898:Ronan Pensec
294:
276:Aki–Gipiemme
268:
235:
232:Performances
221:The Scotsman
219:
211:Graeme Obree
209:
206:Graeme Obree
192:Ronan Pensec
182:and won the
169:
167:
138:cycling team
133:
132:
1180:(in French)
1127:Clásico RCN
1122:Marcel Wüst
1105:, Overall,
1046:Marcel Wüst
824:Pascal Lino
787:Luc Leblanc
584:Hervé Garel
291:Team roster
259:Marcel Wüst
215:hour record
176:Luc Leblanc
153:Luc Leblanc
1635:Categories
1591:29 October
1513:Moore 2008
1473:Moore 2008
1448:Het Parool
1430:Moore 2008
1390:Moore 2008
1378:Moore 2008
1338:Moore 2008
1326:Moore 2008
1314:Moore 2008
1302:Moore 2008
1161:References
1063:1967-08-06
1026:1963-03-31
989:1962-09-30
952:1972-12-03
915:1963-07-10
878:1958-09-13
841:1966-08-13
804:1966-08-04
767:1969-09-22
730:1970-12-30
675:1969-06-02
638:1971-10-14
601:1967-07-15
564:1971-07-14
527:1972-02-29
490:1972-01-18
453:1971-07-03
416:1964-06-12
379:1962-12-19
342:1966-11-19
240:, such as
102:Guy Mollet
38:Registered
1079:Victories
61:Disbanded
1612:(2008).
84:Bicycles
30:UCI code
1584:El País
1491:El País
1155:Source:
159:History
88:Bianchi
66: (
51: (
46:Founded
1620:
1531:Amigoe
1048:
1043:
1011:
1006:
974:
969:
937:
932:
900:
895:
863:
858:
826:
821:
789:
784:
752:
747:
715:
710:
695:Rider
660:
655:
623:
618:
586:
581:
549:
544:
512:
507:
475:
470:
438:
433:
401:
396:
364:
359:
327:
322:
307:Rider
278:, but
41:France
1563:4 May
1538:2 May
1498:2 May
1455:2 May
1415:2 May
1363:2 May
1284:2 May
1249:2 May
1216:2 May
1184:4 May
200:Lille
1618:ISBN
1593:2019
1565:2019
1540:2019
1500:2019
1457:2019
1417:2019
1365:2019
1286:2019
1251:2019
1218:2019
1186:2019
1085:1995
244:and
121:1995
79:Road
68:1995
64:1995
53:1995
49:1995
1052:GER
1015:BEL
978:NED
941:FRA
904:FRA
867:GBR
830:FRA
793:FRA
756:KAZ
719:FRA
664:BEL
627:FRA
590:FRA
553:FRA
516:FRA
479:FRA
442:FRA
405:FRA
368:FRA
331:FRA
190:),
33:GRO
1637::
1556:.
1465:^
1405:.
1354:.
1294:^
1275:.
1259:^
1241:.
1226:^
1209:.
1194:^
1176:.
1114:,
1096:,
261:.
202:.
155:.
1626:.
1595:.
1567:.
1542:.
1502:.
1459:.
1419:.
1367:.
1288:.
1253:.
1220:.
1188:.
1065:)
1061:(
1054:)
1050:(
1028:)
1024:(
1017:)
1013:(
991:)
987:(
980:)
976:(
954:)
950:(
943:)
939:(
917:)
913:(
906:)
902:(
880:)
876:(
869:)
865:(
843:)
839:(
832:)
828:(
806:)
802:(
795:)
791:(
769:)
765:(
758:)
754:(
732:)
728:(
721:)
717:(
677:)
673:(
666:)
662:(
640:)
636:(
629:)
625:(
603:)
599:(
592:)
588:(
566:)
562:(
555:)
551:(
529:)
525:(
518:)
514:(
492:)
488:(
481:)
477:(
455:)
451:(
444:)
440:(
418:)
414:(
407:)
403:(
381:)
377:(
370:)
366:(
344:)
340:(
333:)
329:(
70:)
55:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.