Smiles are not just for the occasion.
Despite the uncertainties of a calendar that promises to be still changing, a new era has begun for Vincent Lavenu and his team, which should henceforth be called AG2R-Citroën Team.
Meeting at AG2R La Mondiale's head office in Paris, the directors of the two co-sponsors accompanied Vincent Lavenu, general manager of the cycling team, to present the ambitions for the coming season.
An ambition not so disproportionate in view of the investments made.
Co-sponsor as of this season and for the next five years, Citroën has added its brand to that of AG2R, a loyal partner since 2000. “A fairly logical marriage” agree André Renaudin (Managing Director of AG2R La Mondiale) and his counterpart Vincent Cobée (CEO of Citroën), two French brands complementary in terms of values but also "complementary in colors", was the first to smile, echoing the brown of AG2R associated with the red of Citroën on the new tunic of the 'team.
A marriage matured according to the contacts established long before the outcome of the partnership, sealed during the first confinement, "a feat" according to those concerned, in view of the economic uncertainties inherent in the health situation.
Vincent Cobée, himself a sportsman (he practices triathlon and cycling), has not set any fixed objectives for the training of Vincent Lavenu, in whom the confidence is full and complete: "In a team, he does not there is only one captain.
This commitment marks our confidence in Vincent Lavenu.
This funding is our way of giving it the keys to success. ”
⚪ #RoulonsAutrement ⚪
The team and @ AG2RLAMONDIALE welcome @Citroen to jointly open a new chapter in the history of the team.
⚪ #RideDifferently ⚪
The team & @ AG2RLAMONDIALE are delighted to welcome @Citroen and become # AG2RCITROËNTEAMpic.twitter.com / OZlk5Is4qX
- AG2R CITROËN TEAM (@ AG2RCITROENTEAM) December 17, 2020
Aim for prestige victories
With an increasing budget, brought to 23 million euros (against 16 million euros last season), AG2R-Citroën is at the top of the basket within the World Tour peloton.
And feeds a legitimate ambition.
Short-term goals have been set for the next two seasons.
15th in the UCI team ranking at the end of the past season, the team aspires to "raise the sporting level as quickly as possible (…) and thus regain strength in the world rankings", according to its general manager.
The Briançonnais, who remembered the “great pride” of the few weeks at the top of the UCI ranking in March 2014, set a goal of returning to around 10th place, “or perhaps better”, at the horizon 2022.
“The goal, also and above all, is to win great races,” adds Lavenu.
We want to win a Monument.
(…) We also want to win stages on the Grand Tours, we know all the impacts of a victory on the Tour de France. ”
The first opportunity to shine will take place on Sunday, at the Grand Prix de la Marseillaise, where Benoît Cosnefroy, injured, will not be able to defend his title.
>> READ ALSO - Alaphilippe, Pinot, AG2R-Citroën ... French ambitions under the microscope
>> READ ALSO - Cycling: 2021, the year of all challenges
Sustain the training course
The general manager, who promises that his team "will win many more races than last year" (a victory in the Tour de France, that of Nans Peters at Loudenvielle), also justified the important transition inherited from the last one. transfer window, where 11 new riders signed up with the team, when the leader Romain Bardet, whose history seemed to be linked to his long-standing team, signed up with the Germans from the DSM team (ex-Sunweb).
The team now gives pride of place to runners who are fond of splinters.
“The riders we have entered have already won a Monument (Greg Van Avermaet, Bob Jungels).
(…) Marc Sarreau is a boy who can win stages in the Tour de France. ”
"We do not succumb to the youthism that intervenes in the professional world"
Vincent Lavenu
In the wake of Olympic champion Greg Van Avermaet (35) who signed three years, Fabian Schär (34), Bob Jungels (28) or Ben O'Connor (25) have joined a group of 30 riders for the World Tour team.
For a clever mix of experience and youth.
While the young people of Chambéry Cyclisme Formation, the U23 and U19 reserve teams, benefit from contact with the pros: “Six riders from the professional team rode with the young people from the training center, a sign of a real transplant that has since taken a number of years. "
Probably the best place to test some new material
(KBLB) # RideDifferently # RoulonsAutrementpic.twitter.com / izkzTIMVLT
- Greg Van Avermaet (@GregVanAvermaet) January 28, 2021
A training course which has recently brought out talents such as Clément Champoussin (22 years old, 31st in the Vuelta 2020), called to discover the Giro, or Aurélien Paret-Peintre (24 years old, 16th in the Giro 2020), in the short- list to take a leading role for the next Tour de France.
Without tending towards overexposure.
"Through the sector that we have set up, we do not succumb to the youthism that intervenes in the professional world, to say that we are going to take and keep the best juniors in the world, specifies Lavenu. .
The Evenepoel phenomenon starts from all of this.
Each team is convinced to have an Evenepoel today.
We don't want to do this.
We want to allow young people to continue their learning on the bike, but also on an academic and human level. ”
And thus give everyone a chance.
Read also
Cycling: Alaphilippe, Pinot, AG2R-Citroën ... French ambitions under the microscope
