Among the many 18 males’s WorldTour groups in 2025, Decathlon CMA CGM (beforehand Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) have introduced essentially the most transfers to this point, with 9 new riders confirmed for his or her 2026 squad as they construct for the current and the long run.
In an enormous overhaul of their squad, the French group have introduced in a number of large names, most notably prime sprinter Olav Kooij and the versatile Tiesj Benoot, each from Visma-Lease a Bike, together with a lead-out prepare for the previous and knowledgeable workers in Mark Renshaw to information them.
Decathlon even have a luxurious that the majority groups do not take pleasure in – a possible Tour de France winner amongst their ranks in Paul Seixas. The rising star stays a key focus as they head into 2026, and after his very spectacular neo-pro season, alongside the presence of Felix Gall, Decathlon might be assured that they need not put money into a principal GC prospect.
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Constructing a brand new dash prepare
In biking’s current seasons, sprints have for essentially the most half been dominated by 4 males: Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) and Olav Kooij.
Having one in every of them is a large bonus and all however ensures wins. In signing the latter, who can be the youngest of the 4, it provides Decathlon the flexibility to compete for victories at any race, together with the Tour de France, and at 24, Kooij ought to solely get higher into his mid and late 20s.
He is netted double-figure victories in three of his previous 4 seasons and 47 already as a professional, 17 of which have been on the WorldTour stage, and it is this stage of success that not solely provides the French group somebody to construct round for sprints however must also take stress off their different stars.
Whereas stories recommend the cash required to herald his providers was eye-watering, the worth of a Tour de France stage win, which Kooij needs to be taking intention at on debut subsequent July, would make the funding value it. Plus, it has been two years since they received a stage of their dwelling race and the largest occasion in biking’s calendar.
Regardless of his skills, any sprinter will wrestle to win on their very own, particularly on the Tour, so Decathlon has invested in a number of particular riders to kind a brand new lead-out prepare. Tobias Lund Andresen, Cees Bol, Robbe Ghys and Daan Hoole ought to kind a part of what could be a formidable prepare, with Benoot additionally well-equipped to contribute.
And on the helm shall be the most effective lead-out riders of current reminiscence becoming a member of as a sports activities director – Mark Renshaw – after he joined from XDS Astana to particularly work on the French group’s ‘dash venture’.
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There’ll little question be a teething interval for the quick man as they attempt to work out tips on how to finest ship Kooij, who operated at Visma with varied completely different leadouts and infrequently freestyled within the bunch to victory, but when they will get it collectively earlier than the Tour, his debut could possibly be one to recollect.
Classics and Grand Tour expertise arrive with Benoot
Benoot is the largest identify to affix after Kooij, as probably the most constant and versatile performers within the peloton, with wins at Strade Bianche and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne to his identify but in addition years of expertise serving to a number of the prime riders on this planet.
The Belgian will little question play an important position in the course of the Classics, having already raced 31 Monuments in his profession and completed within the prime 10 of Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Tour of Flanders on a number of events.
Whereas he hasn’t loved management a lot in recent times as he is ridden in help of Wout van Aert and Matteo Jorgenson, Benoot definitely has the flexibility to be the primary man be that over cobbles or in the course of the Ardennes.
He’ll be becoming a member of up with guys like Oliver Naesen and Stefan Bissegger, who’ve carried out nicely, albeit with no huge outcome to indicate for it, so this addition might see Decathlon compete to grow to be a prime outfit within the Classics.
Except for the one-day enviornment, Benoot has additionally proved to be a top-class domestique at Visma, aiding the likes of Jonas Vingegaard and Primož Roglič to GC titles in Grand Excursions and contributing in a number of areas, be it within the mountains, hills or offering safety throughout a dash run-in.
The opposite arrivals
As already talked about, Decathlon need not put money into new GC riders as a result of they have already got a longtime man for the current and one for the long run, in Gall, who was fifth at this 12 months’s Tour, and 19-year-old Seixas.
However they may want extra riders to help them, so climbers have been introduced on board for 2026. Probably the most notable of them is younger US rider Matthew Riccitello, 23, who had his finest outcome but on the Vuelta a España this previous season, successful the most effective younger rider’s white jersey and ending fifth on GC.
He’ll be an alternative choice for GC management, alongside Gall and Seixas, and has a lot of room to become after impressing at Israel-Premier Tech these previous few seasons. Additionally becoming a member of is Gregor Mühlberger from Movistar, who brings loads of expertise that may assist the event of the youthful stars.
The ultimate new rider becoming a member of shall be Antoine L’Hote, who’s graduating from Decathlon’s growth program. He is proven promise with GC wins on the Olympia’s Tour and Tour d’Eure-et-Loir, alongside taking third on a Tour of Denmark stage behind Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and Tibor Del Grosso (Alpecin-Deceuninck).
Seven fewer French riders in 2026
With 9 riders coming, there in fact needed to be some outgoings from Decathlon, with 9 departing to different groups for 2026 and two retiring.
One in every of their prime performers and present French nationwide champion, Dorian Godon, is among the many prime departures, because the group’s third-highest factors scorer in 2025 and having contributed six of their 26 victories. He is joined Ineos Grenadiers for subsequent season.
Different large names departing embrace Sam Bennett to Q36.5, after the Irish sprinter did not attain his earlier finest throughout two seasons on the French group, and Benoît Cosnefroy, a former winner of the GP Quebec and Bretagne Traditional who has struggled with varied accidents and different points in current seasons. Cosnefroy has joined UAE Crew Emirates-XRG on a two-year deal.
Because the group turns into extra worldwide and brings in a number of riders from completely different international locations, they may have seven fewer French riders than they did final season, with eight departing and just one becoming a member of – L’Hote from the event group.
Alongside Godon and Cosnefroy, they’ve additionally stated goodbye to former Tour de France and Giro d’Italia stage winner Victory Lafay (Unibet Rose Rockets), prime time trial rider and domestique Bruno Armirail (Visma-Lease a Bike), Clément Berthet, Bastien Tronchon (each Groupama-FDJ) and the 2 retiring riders, Nans Peters and Geoffrey Bouchard.
The final two departing riders are Dries de Bondt and Andrea Vendrame, who, after various ranges of success in current seasons, have each joined Jayco-AlUla for 2026.
The decision
After two seasons of progress following the arrival of Decathlon as a title sponsor in 2024, and having completed sixth and seventh within the UCI group rankings these previous two years, the French group’s trajectory is constant to rise.
With CMA CGM additionally approaching board for 2026, Decathlon have put the funding to good use, shoring up a number of areas to make them probably the most well-rounded groups on paper.
An entire new dash prepare constructed round Kooij ought to last more than simply his present three-year deal, and at 24, he might nicely become the most effective sprinter on this planet, although solely time will inform. However it is not simply youth they’ve introduced in, as with Benoot they’ve a wealth of expertise and one of many peloton’s most versatile riders amongst their ranks.
With a concentrate on Kooij, Seixas and Gall plus Benoot becoming a member of the likes of Naesen, Decathlon needs to be formidable in sprints, on the Classics and driving for GC at Grand Excursions.
All in all, Decathlon appear to have crammed the gaps they’d and revitalised their squad for 2026 with worldwide expertise. Whereas shifting away barely from their French id, they’ve modernised and will nicely be on the trail to ‘tremendous group’ standing if their new transfers repay.
