DECATHLON BECOMES CO-PARTNER OF THE AG2R LA MONDIALE TEAM FROM 1 January 2024

DECATHLON's arrival on 1 January 2024 for a five-year period marks a new chapter in the history of the AG2R LA MONDIALE cycling team, 32 years after its creation by Vincent Lavenu.
The AG2R LA MONDIALE Group has been the team's long-standing partner since 1997 and its shareholder since June 2022. This new partnership with DECATHLON will enable the team to take an important step forward in its quest for great victories from the 2024 season onwards.
The riders of the DECATHLON AG2R LA MONDIALE teams will be able to count on the expertise and know-how of VAN RYSEL, DECATHLON Group's performance road bike brand, which will equip them with bikes, helmets and glasses.
This partnership demonstrates the desire of two major French companies, which share the same values of solidarity and community spirit, to join forces around an ambitious sporting project.
For DECATHLON, this is also an opportunity to associate its name with a popular sport known for its values of commitment, cohesion and excitement, thereby inspiring as many people as possible to take up cycling.
DECATHLON and AG2R LA MONDIALE are joining forces in an ambitious project that brings together three teams:
The World Tour team «DECATHLON AG2R LA MONDIALE TEAM», whose objective is to win as many victories as possible in major world races; ;
The Continental team «DECATHLON AG2R LA MONDIALE Development Team»
The junior team «DECATHLON AG2R LA MONDIALE U19 Team».
The latter two are grouped together under the name «New Gen». They form a training programme that aims to identify and train the champions of tomorrow.
Finally, Citroën will become the team's official car supplier in 2024.

Barbara MARTIN COPPOLA, Managing Director of DECATHLON:

«This is a historic moment for DECATHLON. Since our creation in 1976, cycling has always played a central role in our development and growth. Around the world, millions of children learn to ride a bike with DECATHLON, and millions of adults use them every day. Today, we are immensely proud to have our name associated with a World Tour team and to see them using our products. This partnership perfectly illustrates our mission: to get as many people as possible moving, young and old, beginners and experts alike.»

Bruno ANGLES, Chief Executive Officer of AG2R LA MONDIALE:

«The entire AG2R LA MONDIALE Group is very proud to welcome DECATHLON as a partner from 1 January 2024. We share with this company, beloved by the French people, common values of proximity, solidarity and living well together. We have been working for 26 years as a long-standing partner and now shareholder to support the team. We could not have found a better partner to continue doing so and to realise our ambitions of victory in the biggest international races together.»

Vincent LAVENU, team manager:

«I am delighted to be reunited with DECATHLON and to continue a wonderful story that began between 2000 and 2007, when this great company was the team's cycling partner. We won six stages of the Tour de France during that period. This partnership between AG2R LA MONDIALE, whose loyalty and commitment have ensured the team's stability and longevity, and DECATHLON, will challenge us and lead us to set a new course. Our ambition is to work together to achieve great victories at all three levels of the international peloton: WorldTour, Continental and Junior.»

Nicolas Pierron, Director of Van Ryssel:

«Since its creation in 2019, VAN RYSEL, “made in Flanders”, has aimed to become a major brand in professional cycling. Our engineers and designers set extremely high standards to achieve ultra-performance. We partner with experts (ONERA, SWISS SIDE) and professional cyclists to arrive at the starting line with products that are ready to win. We are very proud to see our bikes, helmets and glasses chosen by the AG2R LA MONDIALE teams, including the historic UCI World Tour team. We are excited and eager to start the season.»