Decathlon has a new sponsor on its way to becoming a super team

After the announcement a few weeks ago of AG2R's abandonment of sponsorship of the Decathlon team, with the brand taking full control of the structure, the French have not taken long to announce a new sponsor. CMA CGM, one of the largest companies in the world of maritime transport and logistics. A firm with enough presence to elevate the status of the Decathlon team to the most powerful structures in the World Tour.

Decathlon will have the support of CMA CGM on its journey to make a Frenchman win the Tour again

Decathlon-CMA CGM, this will be the name that the French team adopts from the 2026 season after signing a sponsorship agreement for the next 5 seasons with the option to extend it, and which, given the entity of this new firm, represents a significant increase in budget for the team, which, according to the figures that have been revealed, would be around 40 million euros.

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CMA CGM, acronym for Compagnie Maritime d'Affrètement - Compagnie Générale Maritime, a French company based in Marseille, is one of the largest shipping companies in the world alongside giants like Maersk or MSC. A firm that is no stranger to sports since, since 2023, it has been a sponsor of Olympique de Marseille and is also one of the sponsors of the Olympic Games held last summer in Paris.

In any case, the control of the team's structure will remain in the hands of Decathlon, after acquiring the participation originally owned by AG2R, and is already working on restructuring the team to place it among the top three in the world before 2028. "Together, we are determined to take the team to the highest level of cycling, whether to achieve sporting excellence or to train the champions of tomorrow," stated the recently appointed CEO of Decathlon, the Spanish Javier López.

Statements that clearly allude to the intention of promoting the young promises incorporated into the team and those who are still training in the Sub23 structure, with the clear intention of having that rider in their ranks who can bring a French cyclist back to the top of the Tour de France podium after 40 years since the last victory of a Frenchman in the race at the hands of the legendary Bernard Hinault.