The new title sponsor of the Decathlon AG2R team, which has employed several Estonian cyclists, will be shipping giant CMA CGM, who have signed a five-year contract with the cycling team. As part of the collaboration, the club's budget will rise to nearly 40 million euros with the aim of becoming one of the top five World Tour teams, thus achieving super team status alongside UAE Team Emirates-XRG, Lidl-Trek, Visma-Lease a Bike, and Ineos Grenadiers.
In the Tour de France, the team will focus on the 18-year-old French talent Paul Seixas. In 2027, they plan to launch their own women's team and will continue to work with various development squads.
CMA CGM is considered the third-largest container shipping company in the world, with a 2024 turnover of 55 billion dollars. The company operates in 160 countries, is headquartered in Marseille, and has nearly 600 vessels and 160,000 employees.
"CMA CGM's joining Decathlon is a decisive step in our 2030 strategic plan to reach the highest level in the world," said team manager Dominique Serieys. "Both Decathlon and CMA CGM fully embody this ambition. They share a common long-term vision, a strong culture of innovation, and core values that help promote France internationally. We are determined to write a new historical chapter in both French and world sports."
Serieys has implemented significant changes in the team since 2024, when he took over management from Vincent Lavenu. The team's base will remain near Chambéry in the Alps, but the roster will become more international, with at least ten new riders expected by 2026. Dutch sprinter Olav Kooij (Visma-Lease a Bike) is highly likely to join the team, as is Tiesj Benoot. Kooij's train will likely consist of Cees Bol, Daan Hoole, and Tobias Lund Andresen.
The 18-year-old Seixas participated in his first WorldTour season at the Critérium du Dauphiné, finishing in a high 8th place overall. In 2024, he was the junior world champion in time trial and also won the Italian stage race Giro della Lunigiana. He is expected to lead the French national team at this year's Tour de l'Avenir, and his Tour de France debut could come as early as 2026 or 2027.
