Riders stay with Europcar
Jean-René Bernaudeau’s team managed to survive an almost inevitable end when car rental company Europcar agreed at the last minute to a three-year sponsorship deal with the team formerly known as Bbox-Bouygues Telecom.
Bernaudeau’s struggle for funding was punctuated by the team’s top riders signing, one-by-one, with more secure teams. As the license application deadline approached, Thomas Voeckler announced that he would be singing with Cofidis
if no sponsorship was confirmed (by last Friday).
Voeckler was the last top rider on the team, but he didn’t follow through with his threat. It was revealed that the UCI had extended the deadline to Monday.
“Without me, the sponsor wouldn’t have signed,” said Voeckler to Ouest France. “Philippe Guillemot (CEO of Europcar) told me so on the telephone. In giving my agreement, I saved the team and 50 people get to keep their jobs.”
The team dossier was sent to the UCI on Monday and included a list of the remaining 19 riders staying on for the transition from Bbox to Europcar.
Among those who have remained loyal to the team, Voeckler is joined by Anthony Charteau, who won the King-of-the-Mountain jersey this year at the Tour de France, and Pierre Rolland, who will be the first to compete as a Europcar rider on January 9 for the
French cyclo-cross championships.
“After all these moments of doubt and uncertainty, it’s good to be able to plan for the future,” said Rolland to
Ouest France. “We are all happy to be able to start again and defend the values of the team and of our cycling. Beyond the leaders, like Thomas Voeckler and Anthony Charteau, there are young riders like Cyril Gautier and me. The team has lost Pierrick
Fédrigo, and we have to step up and find the means to compensate for that, to ensure that the team shines in 2011.”
Fédrigo transferred to FDJ, bringing two of his support riders with him, while Nicolas Vogondy has signed with Cofidis. Two other riders had already left and four more are facing expired contracts.
Team Europcar will make its road debut on February 1 at the GP Marseillaise.
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