The French team has been riding BMC racing bikes since 2021. But that will come to an end at the end of the year. The Swiss announced their withdrawal from the World Tour team in a press release.
Exit from AG2R: BMC CEO David Zurcher speaks out
"By working with AG2R, we had continuous feedback from the riders, which was fundamental to meeting the demands of the highest level of competition and equipping them with race bikes that enable them to win," BMC CEO David Zurcher is quoted as saying in the press release.
In the 2023 season, the equipment included the lightweight BMC Teammachine model, the BMC Timemachine Road aero bike and the BMC Timemachine 01 time trial bike. Teammachine R for use. The biggest success this year was the triumph of Austrian Felix Gall on the Queen's stage of the Tour de France over the Col de la Loze. During the Tour of France, the 25-year-old was on an exclusive BMC Teammachine SLR on the road in the Masterpiece version.
BMC's exit from AG2R means that it may be leaving the elite ranks of professional cycling, but it will still be present. After all, the Swiss bike brand continues to equip Tudor Pro Cycling with racing bikes. Although former pro Fabian Cancellara's team is "only" a pro team, it will almost certainly take part in many important races in 2024.
After BMC withdrawal: Decathlon joining AG2R-Citroën team?
The AG2R-Citroën team, which is the only World Tour racing team still using Campagnolo components but is by no means without a bike sponsor. According to media reports, Vincent Lavenu's team will be equipped with racing bikes from Van Rysel, Decathlon's own brand. The competition model Van Rysel RCR has already tested TOUR.
Decathlon itself is to become a co-sponsor and replace the Citroën car brand. According to the Belgian daily newspaper "Het Laatste Nieuws", this is expected to be announced at a press conference on 27 November at BTWIN Village, Decathlon's headquarters in Lille.
Possible transfers for AG2R-Citroën Team
In addition to the announcement of BMC's successor, new riders will also be presented there, according to the report. There are currently only 23 professionals in the AG2R squad for 2024, and no transfers have yet been made official.
Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe), Victor Lafay (Cofidis), Dries De Bondt (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Gianluca Pollefliet (Lotto-Dstny U23) and Sander De Pestel (Flanders-Baloise) are named as new arrivals by "Het Laatste Nieuws".
