French cycling team aims to end 40-year Tour de France drought with major investment
With race leader Tadej Pogačar poised to retain his title when cycling's biggest event concludes Sunday on the Champs-Elysées, that drought appears set to continue.
The Slovenian three-time Tour champion holds a comfortable lead in the general classification. The top French rider, Kevin Vauquelin, sits in fifth place, more than 10 minutes behind.
Over the past four decades, France has produced talented riders such as Thibaut Pinot, Romain Bardet, Warren Barguil or Julian Alaphilippe. All raised hopes but ultimately fell short, often facing rivals backed by stronger and better-funded teams.
That equation could change following an announcement Monday during the Tour's second rest day. Decathlon, a global sporting goods company, is joining forces with CMA CGM, one of the world's largest shipping firms, to invest in a French team with Tour-winning ambitions.
Decathlon, a sporting goods brand, had previously announced it would take over full ownership of the French team currently known as Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, from AG2R La Mondiale, at the end of the 2025 season.
With an estimated budget of 40 million euros ($47 million) — compared to the 60 million euros available to Pogačar's UAE Team Emirates-XRG — the team aims to win the Tour de France within the next five years.
'We are determined to write a historic new chapter for French and global sport,' said Dominique Serieys, the team's general director.
Serieys has outlined strong ambitions for the coming seasons, targeting success in Grand Tour stages and one-day classics such as Paris-Roubaix and Milan-San Remo. The ultimate goal is to win the Tour de France by 2030, with a French rider.
One of the team's most promising French prospects is 18-year-old Paul Seixas, who finished eighth at this year's Critérium du Dauphiné — a key preparation race for the Tour. The team opted not to include him in this year's Tour squad, believing the move would come too early in his development.
Serieys told BFM Marseille that the 2030 Tour de France project will be built around Seixas.
'But we need time, because his first results are probably expected in 2028,' he said. 'We need to give Paul time to understand, learn and perform.'
Asked about the new project on Monday, Pogačar welcomed the news.
'They can be top candidates for winning the Tour in the coming years,' he told a news conference.
___
AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Paret Peintre wins on Mont Ventoux, Pogačar consolidates Tour de France lead
MONT VENTOUX, France (AP) — Valentin Paret Peintre triumphed on Mont Ventoux to become the first home rider to win a stage at this year's Tour de France while Tadej Pogačar consolidated his overall lead on Peintre finished just ahead of former leader Ben Healy in a sprint for the line at the top of the famed mountain known as the 'Beast of Provence.'Santiago Buitrago was third, 4 seconds behind, ahead of Paret Peintre's teammate Ilan Van Wilder and fifth-placed Pogačar, who withstood repeated attacks from Jonas Vingegaard to cross the line 2 seconds before his main stretched his overall lead to 4 minutes, 15 seconds over the Danish rider.___More Tour de France coverage:
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
German car parts maker Bosch to cut up to 1,100 jobs
FRANKFURT (Reuters) -German car parts maker Bosch will cut up to 1,100 jobs by 2029 and restructure its Reutlingen plant as a rapidly worsening auto market drives down sales, a senior company official said on Tuesday. Bosch will focus the plant mainly on manufacturing semiconductors, as making electronic control units is no longer competitive, a statement said. "The European market for control units is highly price-driven and fiercely contested by new entrants," said Bosch's executive vice president of semiconductor operations, Dirk Kress. "The necessary job cuts are not easy for us, but they are urgently needed to secure the future of the site." Bosch employs around 10,000 people in Reutlingen. German and European auto makers have come under pressure from high costs and ferocious foreign competition, as well as a tariff war between the United States and its global trading partners. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Report – Inter Milan Keeping Close Tabs On Parma Defender After Crucial Meeting With Agent
Inter Milan are maintaining close contact with the agent of sought-after Parma center-back Giovanni Leoni. According to Sport Mediaset via FCInterNews, the parties met yesterday to kickstart potential negotiations for the youngster's transfer. Despite currently focusing on signing Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman, Inter haven't lost track of other targets. Indeed, the San Siro giants are keen to add Giovanni Leoni to their squad amid growing interest from other top clubs. Inter Milan Maintain Contact with Parma Starlet Giovanni Leoni PARMA, ITALY – DECEMBER 01: Giovanni Leoni of Parma Calcio during the Serie A match between Parma and SS Lazio at Stadio Ennio Tardini on December 01, 2024 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by) AC Milan and Juventus have also emerged as potential suitors. Furthermore, Liverpool and Manchester United are in the mix, as they've noted the 18-year-old's talent. However, Inter sit at the head of the queue. Indeed, the player wants to reunite with Cristian Chivu, who launched his career in Serie A. Chivu established Leoni as a regular starter at Ennio Tardini in the second half of last season. Therefore, the teenage sensation prefers to work with a familiar coach. Yet, Inter must raise funds from player sales to finance Leoni's arrival, with Parma reluctant to budge on their €40m valuation.
