Tony Gallopin

Tony Gallopin
Name	Tony Gallopin
Full name	Tony Gallopin
Birth date	1988-05-24
Birth place	Dourdan, Île-de-France, France
Height	1.78 m
Weight	68 kg
Role	Rider
Rider type	All-rounder
Proteams	- 2009 Bouygues Télécom - 2010-2011 Cofidis - 2012 RadioShack-Nissan - 2013-2017 Lotto-Belisol / Lotto-Soudal - 2018 AG2R La Mondiale - 2019-2021 Arkéa-Samsic

Tony Gallopin Tony Gallopin is a French former professional road bicycle racer known for his versatility as an all-rounder and his strong solo efforts. Over a professional career spanning more than a decade he rode for multiple WorldTour teams, achieved notable victories in stage races and one-day events, and became widely recognized for an audacious solo win in a Grand Tour. Gallopin combined success on Classics-style courses, breakaways, and time trials, racing against contemporaries across European professional cycling.

Early life and amateur career

Born in Dourdan in the Île-de-France region, Gallopin developed in a milieu that produced riders who moved through French amateur structures such as the Division Nationale ranks and feeder teams to professional squads. As a junior and U23 he competed in races like the Paris–Roubaix Espoirs, Tour de l'Avenir, and regional French calendar events, sharing peloton space with future professionals from teams like FDJ, Cofidis, and Team Sky. His early results drew attention from French and Belgian talent scouts, leading to stagiaire roles and eventual signing with a prominent French professional outfit where he learned from experienced riders connected to Tour de France campaigns and UCI World Tour programs.

Professional career

Gallopin turned professional in 2009 and rode for teams including Bouygues Télécom and Cofidis before joining the RadioShack-Nissan setup, which later evolved into conglomerates with ties to riders from Leopard-Trek and RadioShack. In the mid-2010s he became part of Lotto–Soudal where he worked alongside Classics specialists and Grand Tour domestiques. His tenure overlapped with riders from Omega Pharma–Quick-Step, BMC Racing Team, and Movistar Team during major calendar clashes such as Milan–San Remo, Tour of Flanders, and Paris–Nice.

In 2018 Gallopin signed for AG2R La Mondiale, joining a roster that included French stage racers and support riders oriented to WorldTour objectives at events like Vuelta a España and Giro d'Italia—though his primary focus remained on select one-day races and stages within Tour de France editions. He later moved to Arkéa–Samsic, a team with ambitions to challenge established squads such as Groupama–FDJ and Team Bahrain–McLaren, where he continued to feature in breakaways, time trials, and national-level programs until transitioning away from full-time competition.

Major wins and race results

Gallopin's palmarès includes stage victories and prestigious single-day results. His most celebrated triumph came with a long solo effort on a stage of the Tour de France, where he outsprinted key rivals from Team Sky and Movistar Team to take the win and the stage leader recognition that often accompanies high-profile daily victories. He also claimed overall and stage success in races on the European calendar such as Étoile de Bessèges and achieved podiums in semi-classics like Grand Prix de Wallonie and La Flèche Wallonne-adjacent events against competitors from Deceuninck–Quick-Step and Team Jumbo–Visma.

At national level he competed in the French National Road Race Championships and Chrono des Nations, testing himself against specialists from Saxo Bank and Trek–Segafredo. Gallopin recorded top-10 finishes in monuments and week-long stage races including Liege–Bastogne–Liege, Strade Bianche, Critérium du Dauphiné, and Itzulia Basque Country, marking him as a consistent performer capable of mixing it with Classics contenders like those from Team Sunweb and EF Education First.

Riding style and legacy

Gallopin was characterized as an all-rounder with a punchy burst suited to hilly classics, reduced bunch sprints, and short individual efforts. His competence in time trials and ability to read race situations made him a valuable asset in breakaways and late-race selections, often launching attacks against teams such as Quick-Step Floors and Bora–Hansgrohe during decisive moments. Teammates and rivals from Lotto Soudal, AG2R, and Arkéa–Samsic noted his tactical nous, bike-handling on cobbles akin to riders from Team Cofidis and resilience in multi-day events similar to athletes at BMC Racing Team.

Legacy-wise, Gallopin is remembered for demonstrating how a versatile French rider could secure a high-profile Grand Tour stage and influence Classics outcomes, inspiring younger French pros emerging through structures like CC Étupes and other development teams that feed squads like Groupama–FDJ.

Personal life and off-bike activities

Off the bike Gallopin's personal life intersected with spheres beyond professional teams; he has appeared in media coverage alongside public figures connected to French culture and sports, including interactions with personalities linked to Roland Garros and regional community programs. He invested time in charity rides, promotional events tied to sponsors from the cycling industry, and mentoring roles that connected him with youth academies and local clubs in the Île-de-France area, collaborating with organizations in the French racing network.

Category:French cyclists Category:1988 births Category:Living people