Decathlon Ag2r La Mondiale is the first training to formalize its full complement with a view to 2025. The opportunity for us to gently start planning for next season. And this by analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the squad.
Departures
The big black spot is obviously the departure of Ben O’Connor. The best rider in the squad in 2024. Vice-world champion, runner-up to Roglic during the Vueltabut also in the top 5 of the Giro, the Australian has indeed had a full season. And with 4,000 points on the clock, his departure will inevitably be felt on the accounting level.
Just like those of Valentin Paret-Peintre and Alex Baudin, also authors of a great year. Among those who will no longer wear the French team jersey next year, we will also mention Jaakko Hanninen, Larry Warbasse, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Franck Bonnamour, Damien Touzé and Valentin Retailleau.
Arrivals
When we look at the arrivals, we clearly sense a bet on the future for Decathlon. Indeed, whether it was Paul Seixas, Oscar Chamberlain, Leo Bisiaux, Noa Isidore or even Rasmus Pedersen, the desire was to ensure the presence of the nuggets from the training center in the squad.
Same thinking moreover regarding half of external recruitment. Johannes Staune-Mittet and Tord Gudmestad are indeed still talents to be polished, and have plenty of room for improvement.
As for Callum Scotson and Stefan Bisseger, they should bring a little experience to a much rejuvenated group.
The overall quality of the 2025 workforce
For Decathlon Ag2r La Mondiale, the 2025 vintage should be less good than this year’s, for several reasons.
First of all, the departure of Ben O’Connor has not been compensated, and his absence should be felt during the stage races in particular.
Then, and if we put the Tour de France aside, everything went wonderfully for Decathlon in 2024, and such an alignment of planets is rarely seen for two consecutive years. Let us remember, for example, the Visma Lease a Bike, untouchable in 2023, before suffering numerous blows of fate the following year.
The construction of the season could also be structured differently. As we recall, Decathlon was 18th in the UCI rankings in January, and under threat of potential relegation to Pro Team. A threat which is of course no longer on the agenda, which can also lead to changes. And above all a little less pressure at the start of the season.
The Tour de France having been completely missed this year, priority could, for example, more easily be placed on the idea of having a workforce at 100% of its resources at the start of the Grande Boucle.
Despite a drop in quality in the short term, the bet should prove to be a winning one in a multi-season view. For a simple reason, Decathlon, by signing all its gems and recruiting Staune Mittet, made a bet on the future.
If we add to this the youth of a group that is just waiting to grow, there is no doubt that the structure formerly led by Vincent Lavenu will establish itself permanently in the top 10 of the UCI rankings.
