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Jean-René Bernaudeau
	Jean-René Bernaudeau in 1979
Personal information
Full name	Jean-René Bernaudeau
Born	8 July 1956 (age 68); Saint-Maurice-le-Girard, Vendée, France
Team information
Current team	Team TotalEnergies
Discipline	Road
Role	Rider (retired); General manager;
Professional teams
1978–1980	Renault
1981–1982	Peugeot
1983	Wolber
1984	Système U
1985–1988	Fagor
Managerial teams
1996–1999	Vendée U
2000–	Bonjour

Jean-René Bernaudeau (born 8 July 1956) is a French former road bicycle racer, who competed professionally from 1978 to 1988. Bernaudeau currently works as the general manager for UCI ProTeam Team TotalEnergies.^[2]

In 1982, he said that dope controls in cycling were a breach of the freedom of work.^[3] Before turning professional he represented France competing in the individual road race event at the 1976 Summer Olympics.^[4]

Career highlights include four wins in the Grand Prix du Midi Libre between 1980 and 1983, winning a Bronze medal at the 1979 World Championship road race, as well as wearing the yellow jersey as leader of the general classification for one day after the first stage in the 1979 Tour de France.^[5] He would also win the best young rider classification in the 1979 Tour and would go on to finish in 5th place overall. As the high mountains and the third week began in the 1980 Tour de France Bernaudeau rose through the standings getting as high as 5th behind leading GC riders Zoetemelk, Kuiper, Martin and de Muynck. He DNS stage 18. He would finish in the top 10 of the 1981 Tour de France, in 1982 he finished 13th and in 1983 he finished in the top 10 again. He DNF either the 1984 or 1985 editions but did finish the final two of his career, finishing 26th and 17th respectively.^[6]

For the team's entire existence he has been involved with Team TotalEnergies in all of its different variations between Continental level and UCI World Tour level. Thomas Voeckler spent his entire career riding for Bernaudeau and became known all over France for his spirited defense of the Yellow Jersey during the 2011 Tour de France where he held the jersey against all odds until the final climb of the final high mountain stage, which was Alpe d'Huez. Voeckler's 2011 contract from Team Europcar was worth €420,000 a year, which made him the second highest-paid French cyclist after Sylvain Chavanel.^[7]^[8] He turned down a contract for nearly double the pay from Team Cofidis to stay riding for Bernaudeau.

His son Giovanni Bernaudeau was on his team for 11 seasons until he retired in 2015.^[9]

Notable victories

Grand Prix du Midi Libre 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983
Paris–Bourges: 1979
Route du Sud: 1981
Tour de Vendée: 1977, 1980
Tour du Tarn: 1981
Tour de Lorraine: 1982
Grand prix de Monaco: 1981
Bol d'Or des Monédières: 1983

References

^ Bonamy, Raphaël (1 September 2017). "Direct Énergie: le point sur l'effectif 2018" [Direct Énergie: Roster Update 2018]. Ouest-France (in French). Groupe Ouest-France. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
^ "Total Direct Energie". UCI.org. Union Cycliste Internationale. Archived from the original on 7 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
^ Cyclisme-dopage.com citing L'Équipe 17 August 1982 : « Je considère les contrôles dans les critériums comme une atteinte à la liberté du travail. »
^ "Jean-René Bernaudeau Olympic Results". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
^ "Jean Rene Bernaudeau dans le Tour de France". le dico du tour. Archived from the original on 27 March 2010. Retrieved 17 October 2007.
^ "Rider Jean Rene Bernaudeau". procyclingstats.com. 23 February 2022.
^ Thomas Voeckler : Un avenir doré ? | France Soir Archived 14 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Francesoir.fr. Retrieved on 21 August 2011.
^ Tour de France 2011 : Voeckler, Chavanel... Les salaires des Français !. Sportune.fr. Retrieved on 21 August 2011.
^ Lowe, Felix (4 July 2012). "Tour de France – Pay day for Europcar". yahoo.com. Retrieved 2 May 2015.