Decathlon amplifies financial allocation to €40 million, aiming to challenge powerful teams and pursue Tour de France involvement, under the guidance of Paul Seixas
Decathlon, the renowned French sporting goods retailer, has officially taken over AG2R La Mondiale, marking the end of a 28-year involvement for the latter in professional cycling. The change in team governance was announced on Monday after the Grand Départ in Lille, signifying a new chapter for both parties.
The acquisition is part of Decathlon's long-term strategy, aiming to build for the next five years and beyond. The team, which will be rebranded as Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, has set an ambitious goal: to become one of the top three cycling teams in the world by 2028.
Key aspects of this project include a significant budget increase, with Decathlon planning to boost the team's budget to around €40 million, enhancing resources to support top-level performance and development. The team sees 18-year-old Paul Seixas, who recently finished eighth in the Critérium du Dauphiné against top competitors, as a future star to build their Tour de France ambitions around. They view him as a cornerstone talent for achieving their long-term goals.
Decathlon Global Chief Customer Officer, Céline Del Genes, stated that the change in team governance reflects a long-term strategic intention to shape the future of the sport. The team will continue to be based near Chambéry in the Alps but will have a more international roster in 2026, with at least ten new riders expected.
Team manager Dominique Serieys has shaken up the team after taking over from Vincent Lavenu in 2024. He aims to make Decathlon a super team, competing with the likes of UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Visma-Lease a Bike. The men's WorldTour team currently has Austrian Felix Gall as leader in the Tour, while Seixas is being prepared for a potential Grand Tour debut in the future.
Rumours of L'Oréal coming on board as a major title sponsor for Decathlon's team have been quashed, with no fact about a new major title sponsor for Decathlon's team confirmed as of yet. However, it is expected that an announcement will be made before the end of the Tour de France.
Decathlon is also considering the creation of a women's team for 2027, but no official announcement has been made regarding this matter. The team's current sixth position in the UCI ranking in 2024, as mentioned by Dominique Serieys, serves as a testament to their ambition to improve, aiming to be in the top five of the rankings.
For cycling enthusiasts, Cyclingnews offers unlimited access to its coverage of the Tour de France and other races, including breaking news, analysis, pro tech, live race reports, and a daily subscriber-only newsletter with exclusive insight into the action. With Decathlon's new venture into professional cycling, the sport promises an exciting future filled with fierce competition and inspiring achievements.
Sports-betting enthusiasts might find a new avenue for interest with the rebranded Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale cycling team, aiming to establish itself among the top three teams in the world by 2028. With an increased budget of around €40 million to support top-level performance, the team's ambitious goal, coupled with its strategic aim to have a more international roster in 2026, might attract the attention of sport and finance industries alike.
