These professional cyclists expressed their concern over the loss of teams and limited budgets

Many professional cyclists are looking for teams for next season, but rarely has the cycling climate been so gloomy.

Even though pre-season training courses are about to start and the stars of the peloton are back in training, many professional cyclists are still looking for teams for next season. With the disappearance of several groups including Arkéa-B&B Hotels, the merger of other groups, and increasingly tight budgets, the climate around cycling has rarely been so gloomy, leaving many riders in dire straits.

Due to the lack of proposals, many chose to take the lead and call it quits this summer. Others still cling to their dreams. This is the case of Clément Venturini, winner of the away Coupe de France this season, seven times French cyclo-cross champion but without a contract for 2026.

When we called Clément Venturini, Wednesday 19 November evening, he was returning from cycling in the Lyon area. Not for exercise, just to clear my head. After twelve years on the professional circuit, the 32 year old racer no longer has any illusions. “There’s probably a one and a half chance of a team that I aspire to, so it’s still a better chance of stopping than continuing.” he regretted.

But this uncertainty is heavy and difficult to deal with psychologically, he admits. “It’s absolutely not my plan that this will stop in 2026, said the cyclist. Of course, there are more serious things in life. In my second life, I would never have these emotions, digestion would be difficult. There are ups and downs, mood changes, for now I’m doing it alone with my wife and child. It’s not easy for him to put up with me.”

“Waking up in the morning without a goal for the day doesn’t suit me at all and I need to quickly re-set goals in my second life.”

Clément Venturini, cyclist

at franceinfo

Unfortunately, a situation that, for the former Arkéa-B&B Hotels rider, risks being repeated more and more often in the peloton. “As I say to the younger generation, be strong, he said. It sounds a bit old-fashioned to talk like that, but to be honest, cycling is really going to develop and not necessarily in a good direction.”

Today, about thirty professional runners are still waiting, weeks before the start, for the phone to ring with the good news.