French sporting goods giant to assume sole control ahead of 2026 season
Decathlon is set to become the sole owner of the professional cycling team currently known as Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, following a transition in shareholding that will take place at the end of the 2025 season.
The move, announced on July 7, brings to a close nearly three decades of involvement by AG2R La Mondiale, a French mutual insurance group that first sponsored the team in 1997 and has held full ownership since 2022.
The team’s current co-naming arrangement, launched in 2024, saw Decathlon join as a main partner. That collaboration will now evolve into full ownership under Decathlon’s direction, with both parties emphasising continuity in leadership and sporting ambitions throughout the handover period.
Confirming the change, Decathlon and AG2R La Mondiale issued a joint statement positioning the development as part of a long-term strategic plan to ensure the team’s growth and competitiveness on the global stage.
“Cycling is, and always has been, core to Decathlon,” said Céline Del Genes, Global Chief Customer Officer at Decathlon.
“This change is more than structural; it reflects our long-term strategic intention to deepen our involvement in the sport at the highest level. We want to shape the future of the sport, not just sponsor its present.”
Management continuity expected through 2025 season
Decathlon said the transition would not affect the team’s structure in the immediate term. The current management and support setup, led by France Cyclisme CEO Dominique Serieys, is expected to remain in place through the end of the 2025 season.
Serieys noted that the past 18 months of collaboration had helped to build “a strong and constructive relationship” between both organisations, underpinned by “shared values and common goals.”
Under AG2R La Mondiale’s stewardship, the team developed a reputation for balancing elite performance with a focus on rider development and integrity. In the 2025 season so far, the team has recorded 16 victories and 46 podium finishes.
Fabrice Heyriès, Managing Director of AG2R La Mondiale, reflected on the handover with a sense of finality and pride.
“It is with profound emotion, shared by all AG2R La Mondiale’s employees and members of the board, that we transfer the ownership of our cycling team to Decathlon. After a shared journey of nearly 30 years, we could not have hoped for a better partner to carry forward the team’s legacy,” he said.
AG2R La Mondiale will remain involved as a co-naming partner until December 2025, after which Decathlon will oversee the team’s future independently. Decathlon’s stated ambition is to continue building on the current sporting momentum, with an aim to reach the top three of the UCI World Ranking by 2028.
The company, which operates more than 1,800 stores worldwide, has increasingly positioned itself as an active player in elite sports. Through its Van Rysel performance cycling brand, Decathlon has expanded its focus beyond retail into high-level competition and innovation. Ownership of the team aligns with this broader strategy to integrate the brand across the full spectrum of the sport.
A shift in WorldTour sponsorship dynamics
While the statement from both companies focused on continuity and mutual respect, the development marks a significant shift in the professional cycling landscape. Few teams in the WorldTour have maintained such a long-standing relationship with a single sponsor as AG2R La Mondiale, whose departure will be closely watched across the peloton.
The team’s exact name and branding from 2026 onwards have not yet been confirmed, but further announcements are expected before the end of the current season. Both parties said they would work closely over the coming months to ensure a seamless transition.
AG2R La Mondiale will continue its involvement with the team until the end of the year, supporting riders and staff through the final phase of a partnership that has shaped French cycling for a generation.
