From MTB to road racing: Decathlon plans women’s team featuring some very familiar names

Decathlon CMA CGM continues to take steps towards the launch of its women's road team in 2027. Although its roster has not yet been officially presented, two young riders have already competed in cyclocross wearing the colors of the French structure and eleven names have emerged that could be part of the project. Among them are two well-known international MTB cyclists and a promising Spanish rider.

The women's project of Decathlon kicks off in cyclocross and aims for two MTB stars

The women's project of Decathlon CMA CGM is starting to become visible in competition. During the past weekend, British Zoe Roche and French Laly Pichon, both 18 years old, participated in different cyclocross events wearing the French team's kit and using Van Rysel bicycles.

According to Cyclingnews, the two riders are expected to join the new women's road ProTeam next season, although the team has not yet officially announced its signings.

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The debut could not have been more promising for Roche, who achieved victory in the elite women's category of the first race of the British National Trophy, held in Derby. Meanwhile, Pichon finished tenth in a C2 category race held in Switzerland.

These first appearances confirm that the structure is already active in cyclocross, a discipline that will play an important role in its training strategy.

A new women's ProTeam with 12 riders and the goal of reaching the WorldTour

The creation of the women's team is not a possibility, but a project that Decathlon CMA CGM officially announced on July 29.

The team will start competing in 2027 with a UCI Women's ProTeam license, the second category of women's professional cycling, and will have an initial roster of 12 riders.

The team will be integrated into the NewGen program, led by Guillaume Bonnafond, which already includes junior and continental development structures. Its headquarters will be in La Motte-Servolex, in the French region of Savoie, and will have the resources of the performance center used by the men's WorldTour team.

Additionally, Van Rysel will be its supplier of bicycles and equipment. The structure will have its own technical, medical, and performance staff, in addition to leveraging various shared resources with the men's team.

Decathlon's intention is not to immediately build a roster of big stars, but to develop young talents from road cycling, cyclocross, and MTB, with the goal of reaching the Women's WorldTour in the coming years.

Samara Maxwell and Greta Seiwald, two MTB names among the possible additions

One of the most interesting aspects of the new formation is its connection with the Decathlon Ford Racing Team of MTB.

Specialized transfer journalist Daniel Benson revealed in September a list of eleven riders linked to the new team. Among them are New Zealander Samara Maxwell and Italian Greta Seiwald, both members of Decathlon's MTB structure.

Maxwell's presence is particularly striking. The overall winner of the 2025 XCO World Cup is one of the major international references in Cross Country and has a contract with Decathlon Ford until the end of 2028. Seiwald also has her continuity secured with Decathlon Ford until 2028 and has a long history in international MTB competitions.

The possible addition of both to the road team would not necessarily imply their departure from XCO. Everything points to Decathlon potentially leveraging its new women's structure to facilitate multidisciplinary programs, although it has not yet been explained how the riders' calendars would be coordinated.

This connection makes even more sense after Decathlon has strengthened its MTB project for 2027, a season in which Van Rysel will also take over the supply of bicycles.

A Spanish rider among the eleven names that have emerged

The first women's roster of Decathlon could also include Spanish representation. Among the cyclists mentioned in the transfer reports is Lidia Castro de la Serna, an 18-year-old from Valladolid who currently competes with the Mirat Team.

Castro has had an interesting season in the junior category, with results such as victory in the time trial to Grand Colombier at the Valromey Tour Féminin and third place in the overall classification of the Emakume Gazteen Itzulia.

Her possible addition would align with Decathlon's policy of attracting young cyclists with room for progression and offering them a transition to the professional peloton.

In the list of eleven names, other young promises also appear, such as French Justine Baud, national junior road champion, and Australian Anna Dubier, junior world champion on the track.

Alongside them are riders with experience in the professional peloton such as Laura Molenaar, Océane Mahé, and Laura Lizette Sander, as well as Belgian Lien Schampaert and the already mentioned Zoe Roche and Laly Pichon.

The 2027 season will be the first step of a project that aims to establish itself in international women's cycling and that, even before announcing its final roster, has already begun to compete in Decathlon's colors.