There are many noticeable changes at cycling team AG2R La Mondiale, the WorldTour team that rode as AG2R Citroën Team from 2021 to 2023. Decathlon will become the new co-sponsor of the French racing brigade, which from January 1, 2024 onwards, will go by the name Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale.
The announcement of Decathlon as the new sponsor of the team, which includes riders like Ben O'Connor, Oliver Naesen, and Dorian Godon, took place quite fittingly in one of the many branches of the international sports chain. BTWIN Village - Decathlon Cycle Lille, a store mainly focused on cycling, was the backdrop for the ceremonial activities, which were attended by a large number of guests.
Van Rysel, a brand that has played a major role within the Decathlon group since 2019, will play an important part in the racing project of team manager Vincent Lavenu starting next year. The company, which mainly focuses on performance-oriented racing bikes, will not only sponsor the bikes but also the helmets and glasses. In short, there are plenty of changes!
According to sources such as Le Parisien, the team has improved so much that Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale now ranks in the top five teams in terms of budget. With an annual budget of 26 million euros, the team has increased its funding by three million euros compared to last year, bringing it closer to wealthy teams such as INEOS Grenadiers and UAE Team Emirates.