Le Dévoluy has become the home of a landmark project in French women’s cycling, with the official launch of the Le Dévoluy – Région Sud Ladies Cycling Team. Announced on 17 December, the new structure will compete at National Division 1 level, making it the first women’s team of its kind based in the southern region of France.
The project is led by Stéphane Garcia, President of the South Regional Cycling Committee of the French Cycling Federation, and addresses a long-standing gap in the regional pathway for female riders.
Until now, talented riders from Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur were often forced to leave the region to access high-level competition and development structures. The creation of a DN1 women’s team offers a new alternative, allowing riders to remain based in the South while progressing within a nationally competitive environment.
Garcia described the team as a “structuring project for regional cycling” and a clear commitment to equality in sport, aimed at retaining and developing home-grown talent rather than exporting it elsewhere.
Dévoluy at the centre of the project
The team will be based in Le Dévoluy, in the Hautes-Alpes, a location already well established as a training ground for elite cyclists. With altitude ranging from 1,500 to 2,700 metres, demanding mountain passes and around 300 days of sunshine per year, the area provides natural conditions well suited to high-performance preparation.
Mayor Alexandra Butel underlined that cycling plays a strategic role in Dévoluy’s wider sports policy. The region has previously hosted the Tour de France, the French Mountain Bike Championships and events such as l’Éterlou, and the women’s DN1 team is seen as a continuation of that trajectory.
Beyond sporting performance, the team is also intended to promote regional identity and position Dévoluy and the Hautes-Alpes as a territory committed to youth development and equal opportunities.
A clear sporting roadmap to 2030
The Le Dévoluy – Région Sud Ladies Cycling Team has been built around a defined long-term plan rather than a short-term project.
- 2025-2026: Launch and consolidation at DN1 level
- 2027-2028: Ambition to step up to Continental status
- 2030: Establish the team as a benchmark for women’s cycling preparation
The project is supported by a mixed partnership model, combining backing from local authorities with private-sector involvement. Alongside the Commune of Dévoluy, both the Department of Hautes-Alpes and the South Region are already confirmed supporters, with further public and private partners invited to join.
Development, retention and progression
At its core, the team has a threefold mission: to train, retain and propel female cyclists from the South Region towards the highest levels of the sport.
That philosophy is reflected in a young and varied roster, combining experienced riders with promising juniors, as well as a technical staff focused on long-term development rather than short-term results alone.
The South Regional Cycling Committee has also confirmed it will support Dévoluy’s application to become an official Training Centre for the Alpes 2030 Olympic Games, drawing on experience gained from Paris 2024 preparations. Securing this label would further strengthen Dévoluy’s position as a reference site for elite cycling preparation.
2026 rider roster
- Lena Bourdon
- Margaux Borrelly
- Axelle Guirado
- Julie Iemmolo
- Morgane Lestrade
- Clara Levarlet
- Charlotte Lovett
- Lola Pelardy
- Maeva Plagniol
- Ebony Robinson
2026 staff
- Stéphane Garcia – President
- Fabrice Vettoretti – Coach / DS
- Hervé Inglebert – Operational Manager
- Christophe Olivier – Sports Manager / DS
- Eric July – Head of Racing Service
Provisional 2026 race calendar
The team’s first DN1 season will include a full national programme, with key dates including:
- Vendée Beaches Tour – February 21-22
- Carlus Grand Prix – March 8
- Women’s Tour of the Pays de la Loire – April 8
- Chambéry Women’s Grand Prix – April 19
- Loire Ladies Tour – April 25-26
- Ambert Livradois Forez Women’s Tour – May 9-10
- Brittany Ladies Tour – May 28-31
- French Championships – June 25-28
- Kreiz Breizh Women’s Elite – August 27
- Paris-Bourges – September 12
- Mirabelle Classic – September 26
With its creation, the Le Dévoluy – Région Sud Ladies Cycling Team represents a significant step forward for women’s cycling in southern France, laying the foundations for a sustainable pathway from regional development to national and potentially international competition.
