One-track mind: Marie-Divine, our new ambassador.

We’re proud to announce that Marie-Divine Kouamé is now a Café du Cycliste ambassador. At just twenty-three, Marie-Divine is already a world champion, a European title holder and an Olympian in track cycling sprint events. We sat down with her to talk training, cycling and clothing at this time of year when many of us are trying to define our goals – while Marie-Divine has already won two silver medals and one bronze medal at the French championships in the keirin, sprint, and track time trial events.

Welcome Marie-Divine! For those discovering you for the first time: who is Marie-Divine today, as an athlete and competitor?

I’m a high-level athlete committed 100% to my performance project. I’m very determined, demanding of myself and driven by a constant desire to improve. Competition is part of my identity: it’s where I express myself best. I’ve found a balance between my sporting life and my personal life—I manage to continue my studies, train properly, eat well, recover well—and I’ve put all of that in place through my own means.

As a world champion in track cycling, what does your daily training routine look like today?

My days are structured around track training, strength and conditioning at INSEP [the French national institute for elite sport], my classes and recovery. I also take care of my dog – it’s a big responsibility, but it allows me to spend a lot of time outdoors, which does me a world of good. I practice an indoor sport, and even though there are periods when I ride a lot outside, I still spend most of my time inside a velodrome or a weight room. It’s a demanding balance, but a necessary one to perform at the highest level. I need all of that to feel good.

Alongside cycling, what role does gym work play in your preparation? Are there specific exercises you consider essential for cyclists, especially on the track?

Strength training is essential in my preparation. It helps me develop strength and power and prevents injuries. Certain exercises are indispensable for being competitive on the track. Luckily, I love it – it’s almost a 50/50 split with track work! And it’s also good not to do something other than cycling. As a high-level athlete, you’re often confined to your sport because of injury risk… in the end, it’s almost like I have three sports: track, strength training and road cycling.

You train both on the track and outdoors. How do these two environments fit together in your preparation?

The track is at the heart of my practice, but outdoor riding helps me develop complementary qualities: endurance, effort management, the ability to absorb training load. Road cycling is really a complement to track work, and I get a huge amount of pleasure from it. There are often two or three weeks a year when I go on a road/strength training camp to build my “base,” usually in sunny destinations, and it really does wonders!

The velodrome is a very specific environment, both physically and mentally. What do you focus on there as a priority and, conversely, what do outdoor rides give you that the track doesn’t?

On the track, I work on all the qualities of a sprinter depending on the training blocks: strength, cadence, lactate capacity… there are so many parameters to improve, it’s fascinating. Beyond the physical aspect, there’s also the cognitive side, which is really tested during track sessions. We sprint, then prioritize full recovery before the next effort. Between two sprints, there can be 20 minutes, so you have to manage the ability to switch your brain off and then back on again. Cycling outside gives me freedom, relaxation and a different kind of pleasure. It’s also more social – I often ride with others, and there’s less focus on performance. I usually ride for recovery or basic endurance, so no problem stopping for a coffee with a nice slice of banana bread!

As a woman competing at the highest level of track cycling, what have been the main challenges in your journey?

Asserting myself, earning my place, believing in myself in a sceptical world. High-level cycling requires a lot of resilience—especially when you’re a woman.

Do you feel that visibility and recognition for women in elite cycling are evolving?

Yes, clearly. There’s still a long way to go, but things are moving. Performances speak for themselves, and women are increasingly taking the place they deserve.

We’re very happy to announce our partnership through this Gazette. What made you want to associate with Café du Cycliste?

Café du Cycliste represents a vision of cycling that really speaks to me: elegance, high standards, performance, but also a strong identity. It’s not just equipment, it’s a whole universe, a way of living the sport. I fell in love with cycling at the age of four, thanks to a passionate coach who cared deeply about us always looking presentable. He hated it when we opened our jerseys halfway – they had to be zipped all the way up. And socks always below the calf. He used to say, “If you’re not strong, at least look classy.” It made us laugh, but today it’s part of my culture. Style on a bike really matters!

Is there one piece of the kit you prioritise in your daily training? Why?

Bib shorts (Victoire / Graziella), no doubt. Support and comfort are essential to string together long training hours without compromise.


What makes you most proud today, beyond titles and results?

My journey. When I started at the age of four, no one thought I would be the only one of my generation to go to the Paris Olympic Games, almost twenty years later. I’m proud of my ability to never give up, even in difficult moments.