Paul Penhoët, just aged 21 years, is entering his first year in the professional peloton. He has just achieved a splendid 5th place for his first race at World Tour level. It is a place full of hope given its potential. In the future, what can he aim for ?
A past full of hope
from the Paris region, Paul Penhoët started cycling very early. He obtained his first license before turning ten. It is towards his 15 years since he won his first successes on the road, among cadets.
Along with road races, the Ile-de-France practice the track, which succeeded him during the second part of his adolescence. It was also during this period that the young Ile-de-France player proved himself. He won the Ile de France Championship on the road in the under 19 ans.
In 2018, he stands out by winning the American French Cup with Donavan Grondin. Which will earn him a place in the national team alongside Kevin Vauquelin and Axel Laurance for example.. The Ile-de-France driver will take 6th place at the Madison World Championships in Aigle the same year in duet with Donavan Grondin. The year 2018 is in short a landmark year for him who will chain successes on the speed ring.
2019 will be marked by his first big steps on the road. As a highlight of this season, Paul Penhoët participates in the Hell of the North Juniors. He abandons the race. Despite this failure, the Ile-de-France is selected to participate in the Course de la Paix. One of the reference races in its category. She does quite well. Even if he never raised his arms on this test, he finishes on the podium by two stages and finishes second in the points classification. The season is also marked by multiple national track titles. A good omen for the future !
His time in the world of professional racing
Following the results achieved during the previous seasons and the current one, the Groupama-FDJ continental team announces the arrival of the Parisian in its ranks on 25 October 2019.
With Hugo Page (today runner for Intermarché-Wanty Gobert Matériaux), he started his collaboration with Jens Blatter's team perfectly by winning the 12 Geneva hours.
Following the Covid-19 pandemic, the season is quickly over. It is therefore following the restrictions imposed during this period that Paul Penhoët confronts professionals for the first time... from a distance. He won a 26th place on the virtual Tour de France organized to compensate for the delay of the Grande Boucle in September. No other event marks its first season in the continental category.
As the first full season for the continental racer Groupama-FDJ, 2021 will do better in Ile-de-France. He raises his arms on Châtillon-Dijon, the Etoile d'Or and the Tour d'Eure-et-Loire where he won all the distinctive jerseys. His year ends with an honorable 8th place in the U23 World Championships.
2022 is a confirmation for him. In parallel with his contract with the continental team, Paul Penhoët runs with the Elites. At this level, he comes close to winning the Tour Poitou-Charentes behind Marc Sarreau, former rider for the Marc Madiot team. The Parisian wins the Mediterranean Games in his category. He takes another 8th place at the U23 World Championships in Wollongong.
During August 2022, an announcement is made when he goes to the professionals in 2023.
This season is off to a flying start for the French. He gets a 5th place behind the best sprinters in the world. A result that confirms its good level. How far can he go ?
And after ?
Paul Penhoët is a light and small runner for a sprinter. He is 1.73m tall and weighs 64 kg. He has a profile similar to that of Bryan Coquard or that of Caleb Ewan. An advantageous size to pass the bumps. It therefore has the profile to shine on relatively hilly races or when the finish is on a false rising flat.
Knowing that he is in his first professional year, Everything is still possible. His career is still long. It is now up to him to show what he is capable of. Why not, A day, become one of the best sprinters in the world and be a competitor for a victory over Milan-San Remo for example, or play for the green jersey in the Tour de France ?
Even if the Frenchman has only run very little in the World Tour, many consider him the successor of Arnaud Démare. Although his racing past is brilliant, only the future can tell us what it is capable of.
