FDJ-SUEZ group supervisor Stephen Delcourt has dropped one other trace that Demi Vollering might be part of the French girls’s WorldTour group in 2025, revealing plans to extend the group’s funds by 20% for every of the subsequent 4 years in an interview with French newspaper L’Equipe.
Title sponsors FDJ and SUEZ are set to proceed their funding of the group regardless of curiosity from different sponsors, whereas modifications within the roster might see Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig go away after 5 years with the French group.
“Our funds is €4,000,000, however I believe will probably be greater than my projections in the beginning of the 12 months as a result of prices have exploded,” Delcourt instructed L’Equipe.
“These wants would require important progress sooner or later. The aim is to intention for a rise of between 15 and 20% within the funds annually till 2028. Our funds has already elevated fourfold in 5 years.”
Delcourt has averted denying experiences that Vollering could be part of FDJ-SUEZ, citing the hyperlinks as a sign of the energy of the group.
“The rumours that hyperlink Demi Vollering with FDJ-SUEZ solely verify the viability of the group’s mission carried out since 2006 and constructed on laborious work and humility through the years,” the group just lately instructed Cyclingnews.
“Demi Vollering is a big champion. On the age of 27, she has already added the largest races to her checklist of achievements, the Tour de France, the Ardennaises, the Vuelta, the Strade Bianche,” Delcourt instructed L’Equipe.
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“Any big-name bike owner who shares these ambitions will stick to us. Every bike owner should additionally be capable to adhere to the group’s human and moral mission. Having a number of leaders is within the group’s DNA, it does not scare us.”
Vollering is on the centre of an enormous girls’s switch season, with Elisa Longo Borghini transferring on from Lidl-Trek and Kasia Niewiadoma additionally out of contract on the finish of 2024.
Vollering has grow to be remoted at SD Worx as Lotte Kopecky and Lorena Wiebes keep on the group and take over management. Nonetheless, Vollering is about to defend her Tour de France Femmes victory this summer season after the Paris Olympics. She is reportedly valued at near €1 million per season as a result of her stage race skills and up to date success.
Beneath UCI guidelines, riders’ transfers can’t be finalised till the official switch interval of August 1 to December 31. Nonetheless, group managers, riders and their brokers are actually busy engaged on particulars.
Cavalli and Uttrup Ludwig are on the finish of their contracts with FDJ-SUEZ, whereas Évita Muzic has prolonged her contract till 2027.
“Marta was the sufferer of a critical accident through the 2022 Tour, and twenty-two months later, she nonetheless has after-effects. I solely have one precedence: to be the very best assist for her,” Delcourt mentioned.
“Cecilie had an advanced begin to the season. Now, the target is to regain her standing as a high 10 rider on the earth. She needs to be in fine condition for her objectives this summer season: the Olympic Video games, the Tour de France and the World Championships in Zurich.
“We can not preserve cyclists at any price. If they’ve gives greater than what I can provide, I forbid myself from judging them as a result of their profession are brief.
“Grace Brown has her future in her fingers,” Delcourt mentioned of the Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes winner.
“If she needs to proceed, she’s going to proceed with us and I hope we will discover an settlement. It is unimaginable for me to see her carrying one other jersey.
“Évita is a logo of our group. She arrived very younger in 2018 however she progresses annually with nice humility. She is a French rider who isn’t afraid to shine internationally. However Évita’s aim is to not be the primary Tricolore in France. It is nearly being the very best.”
Delcourt has set some excessive ambitions for the subsequent 4 years. “The group needs to win the three nice Excursions and the six nice classics within the subsequent 5 years,” he made clear.
“Our mission is bold. We had a primary cycle between 2020 and 2023, which was to settle into the WorldTour, with a rise within the variety of victories. Now, we’re approaching a 2024-2028 cycle by setting ourselves ultra-ambitious WorldTour objectives. We haven’t any limits, we need to tick off the largest races.”
