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.
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a few seconds ago
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Tadej Pogačar shows unrivaled audacity to win his fourth Tour de France title in style
PARIS — The roads were dangerously slippery after heavy rain. A fourth Tour de France title was all but won anyway, so finishing safely in the pack would do fine for Tadej Pogačar. Especially considering Sunday's final stage had already been neutralized for safety reasons and he just had to complete the race. Surely there was no need to launch a seemingly pointless attack and risk crashing? But holding back or being cautious rarely appeals to Pogačar, the 26-year-old cycling star from Slovenia. He clinched his fourth Tour title in inimitably daring style on Sunday and further cemented his place among cycling's greats. Even though he really did not need to, and risked falling on oil slick-wet roads, Pogačar simply could not help himself. Against all logical opinion, he tried winning Sunday's 21st and final stage with trademark uphill attacks, only to fall short of the stage win itself. 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As the rain teemed down, he set a tremendous pace in the Montmartre climbs as fans cheered all along the cobbled Rue Lepic, with flags and fans hanging out of windows. Only five riders were left with Pogačar on the third ascension of the 1.1-kilometer Montmartre hill. After fending off American Matteo Jorgenson, he was caught cold near the top as Van Aert launched a stunning attack to drop — yes, drop! — Pogačar, the world's best climber, on the steepest section. "Hats off to Wout, he was incredibly strong," Pogačar said. Van Aert rolled back down for a prestigious stage win on the famed Champs-Élysées. Pogačar looked weary as he crossed the line in fourth place, 19 seconds behind. 'Peace and some nice weather' But then it was time to celebrate title No. 4. Although don't expect Pogačar to make any headlines on that front. "Everyone celebrates in their own way, I just want peace and some nice weather, not like here today," Pogačar said. "Just to enjoy some quiet days at home." Only four riders have won the showcase race five times: Belgian Eddy Merckx, Spaniard Miguel Induráin and Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault. Pogačar won four stages this year to take his Tour tally to 21 and 30 at major races, including six at the Giro d'Italia and three at the Spanish Vuelta. The UAE Team Emirates leader praised his teammates. "I think the second week was the decisive moment," Pogačar said. "We took more advantage." Lipowitz, meanwhile, secured his first career podium at a Grand Tour, the alternative name given to the three major races. His performance, following his third-placed finish last month at the Critérium du Dauphiné, suggests the 24-year-old German rider could challenge in the near future. Breaking with tradition Traditionally, the last stage is largely processional with riders doing laps around Paris. 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Pogačar is also the world road race champion. His dominant victory at the Critérium continued his excellent form the spring classics. After winning stage 4 of the Tour, Pogačar added three more stage wins, including an emphatic uphill time trial. What's left to win? He would love to win the Paris-Roubaix classic and Milan San-Remo. The 259.2-kilometer (161-mile) Roubaix race is called "The Hell of the North" because of its dangerous cobblestone sections. Pogačar debut appearance at the one-day classic this year saw him seeking to become the first Tour champion to win it since Hinault in 1981. But powerful Dutch rider Mathieu van der Poel won it for the third straight year. Pogačar has also yet to win Milan-San Remo, with Van der Poel also beating him there this year. Expect a fired-up Pogačar next year at Roubaix and Milan-San Remo. But it's unsure whether he'll tackle the Vuelta.
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