Sam Bennett will have several new team mates next season after his Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale squad announced a group of new riders for 2025 and beyond. The team has enjoyed its best season for years in 2024 and is seeking to capitalise on its momentum.
It has taken 30 victories, its biggest tally for 25 years - including stage wins at the Giro d'Italia and La Vuelta - while Ben O'Connor held the leader's jersey at the Vuelta for 13 days.
But with O'Connor, who was 2nd at the Worlds last weekend, now leaving the team, the resurgent French squad, now backed by a big-money sponsor Decathlon and with new management, has moved quickly to complete its roster for next year.
Paul Seixas, who won the TT at the Worlds in Zurich last week, jumps from the junior ranks straight into World Tour level next season with Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, having ridden for its junior team this year. Rasmus Søjberg Pedersen, a young Danish sprint joins from the U23 team.
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French U23 road race champion, Noa Isidore (20), and Australian 19-year-old Oscar Chamberlain as well as France's Léo Bisiaux (19) all also join Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale from its U23 team.
Of the new signings just announced, Stefan Bissegger joins from EF Education-EasyPost) while Callum Scotson moves from Groupama-FDJ). Johannes Staune-Mittet, who won Giro Next Gen and Ronde d'Isard, comes in from Visma-Lease a Bike while Tord Gudmestad joins the French team from Uno-X Mobility.
"I chose (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) to continue to progress, and I think this is the best place to do it," said Staune-Mittet. "My long-term goal is to continue to grow and become the best rider I can be.
"In the short term, I’m looking forward to supporting the team leaders and, if the opportunity presents itself, I hope to achieve good results and represent the jersey in the best possible way."
Contract extensions include Nicholas Prodhomme and Stan Dewulf - who have both extended for two more years - as well as Pierre Gautherat and Aurélien Paret-Peintre, who have extended their deals for three more years.
