Having been left out of Cofidis' team for the Tour de France after a fractious few months in the relationship between him and the team, Nacer Bouhanni has voiced his displeasure at the team management's decision.
"I am very, very disappointed," Bouhanni told French sports newspaper L'Equipe (opens in new tab). I am really very unhappy.
"Even if I am mentally strong, it is very hard to accept [the decision]. I always give 100 per cent but mentally it's getting harder for me."
Bouhanni's is the latest in an ongoing conflict between the rider and the team hierarchy since Cédric Vasseur took over from Yves Sanquer as Cofidis’ general manager at the end of 2017.
In March Bouhanni hit out at the team’s decision not to pick him for Milan-San Remo, before the team withdrew him from the Volta a Catalunya after one stage due to “illness”. Vasseur then said that he “wouldn’t enter Bouhanni in a sportive” in a stinging attack on the former boxer’s form, training and attitude at the start of April.
Watch: Tour de France 2018 preview
Bouhanni was also involved in a "violent altercation" with sports director Roberto Damiani at the Eschborn-Frankfurt one-day race, and was seen remonstrating with team-mate Christophe Laporte after he ignored team orders to lead-out Laporte on the opening stage of the Route d'Occitanie, instead choosing to sprint against his team-mate.
However the 27-year-old, who describes himself as "shy and reserved" says that the issues stem from poor communication from the team management, particularly Vasseur.
"At Cofidis, I do not get to talk with many people. These are conversations by email," Bouhanni continued. "I would like to know what is expected of me, to tell me things face-to-face.
"I hardly know Cédric, he barely knows me wither. I haven't had any real discussions with him since December."
After missing out on selection for the Tour de France, Bouhanni is now expected to be the team's main sprinter at the Vuelta a España.
Thank you for reading 10 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
-
-
Remco Evenepoel sends verbal warning to his 'idol' Primož Roglič after quadruple Volta a Catalunya showdown
It's 2-1 to Roglič after a neck-and-neck fight at the Volta a Catalunya, but Evenepoel isn't short of confidence
-
How E3 showed us what Van Aert, Van der Poel and Pogačar need to do to win the Tour of Flanders
Wout van Aert might have won on Friday, but everything could change next Sunday
-
'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).
-
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
-
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.
-
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
-
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.
-
'We wouldn't enter him in a sportive': Nacer Bouhanni's training, form, and attitude slammed by Cofidis boss
Cofidis team boss Cédric Vasseur has slammed Nacer Bouhanni's form, saying that the so-called star sprinter wouldn't even make the team for a sportive.
-
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.
-
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.
