O’Connor, Sivakov and De Plus join Decathlon amid battle over Seixas’ future

Decathlon CMA CGM has just confirmed the signings of Ben O'Connor, Pavel Sivakov, and Laurens De Plus for 2027. Three top-level additions that particularly strengthen their mountain block and arrive at a decisive moment for the future of the French team, which is immersed in a multimillion-dollar negotiation to retain Paul Seixas beyond 2027.

Decathlon announces three major signings for 2027 while negotiating Paul Seixas's continuity

The French team is determined to make a leap in quality, and these moves seem to respond to a strategy that goes far beyond strengthening their roster. The main objective remains to convince Seixas that Decathlon is the best place to develop his career and aspire to win the grand tours.

The three signings, which had been circulating for months as possible additions, are now official. Ben O'Connor and Laurens De Plus have signed contracts until the end of 2028, while Pavel Sivakov has committed until 2029.

The announcement comes just a few days after it was revealed that Decathlon is preparing an extraordinary financial offer to renew Paul Seixas, whose current contract ends at the end of 2027.

RECOMENDADO

Paul Seixas is close to deciding his future: Decathlon prepares a mega-offer to keep him

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

UCI leaves Picnic PostNL and Jayco AlUla off its first list: what will happen in 2027?

Q36.5 launches the Vampire Hooded, a winter jacket developed for Tom Pidcock with an integrated balaclava

Gobik Envy review: a technical gilet that offers far more than meets the eye

Hutchinson unveils FlashAir, its new pocket-sized electric pump for road, gravel and MTB

Decathlon knows that presenting a competitive financial offer will not be enough. Seixas also needs sporting guarantees, especially a team capable of supporting him in the mountains and competing head-to-head with the blocks surrounding Tadej Pogačar and other great leaders.

In this context, the arrival of O'Connor, Sivakov, and De Plus takes on special importance. All three have experience in grand tours and can provide the solidity that a rider with aspirations for the general classifications needs. Moreover, these signings help compensate for the significant departures of Felix Gall and Gregor Mühlberger, who will race for Lidl-Trek next season.

Ben O'Connor returns to the team where he achieved his best results

Aussie Ben O'Connor is at the center of one of the most interesting moves in the market. After two seasons with Jayco AlUla, he returns to the French structure where he competed between 2021 and 2024.

During that time, he achieved some of the most notable results of his career, such as the stage victory in the 2021 Tour de France, where he finished fourth overall, and his second place in the 2024 Vuelta a España, where he also secured a stage win.

O'Connor has acknowledged that many of his greatest successes came precisely with this team and that he is excited to return to a structure that, as he explains, has evolved considerably in terms of performance and innovation.

His return offers Decathlon a rider capable of taking on responsibilities in the general classifications, but also of becoming an important support for Seixas in the grand tours.

Pavel Sivakov and Laurens De Plus strengthen the mountain block

Pavel Sivakov arrives from UAE Team Emirates-XRG, where he has been one of Tadej Pogačar's trusted riders. His experience working for the Slovenian in some of the most important races on the calendar can be particularly valuable for the new French project.

Sivakov also has a notable personal palmarès, with victories in the Tour of Poland, the Tour of the Alps, and the Vuelta a Andalucía. The French rider assures that he was convinced by Decathlon's sporting ambitions and its progress over the last few years.

Meanwhile, Laurens De Plus leaves INEOS to join a structure where he will have an important role as a support climber. The Belgian has demonstrated his ability to work with grand tour leaders and arrives ready to put his experience at the service of the team.

De Plus has indicated that one of his main objectives will be to contribute to Decathlon's major victories, including the possibility of conquering a grand tour. He also wants to participate in the development of younger riders.

Romain Bardet, another piece of the new Decathlon

The team's sporting transformation also includes the now-official arrival of Romain Bardet as sports manager starting in January 2027.

The former French cyclist has celebrated the addition of the three riders and believes that their experience will allow for the construction of a more competitive mountain block around the young leaders of the formation.

Bardet has particularly highlighted that O'Connor's decision to return is a sign of the team's ability to provide an environment where riders can develop their potential.

His incorporation into the management is another of Decathlon's bets to raise the level of its sporting structure.

With these three confirmed signings, the French formation begins to define a reliable roster for 2027.

However, the most important operation remains open and does not involve the arrival of any new rider: securing Paul Seixas's contract renewal.