French cyclo-cross champion Amandine Fouquenet will race for Pauwels Sauzen-Altez Industriebouw from 1 January, having agreed a contract running through to the end of 2027. The move marks a significant step in the 24-year-old’s rapid rise to the elite level of women’s cyclo-cross, following a breakthrough season that made her one of the most sought-after riders on the market.
The deal was confirmed by team manager Jurgen Mettepenningen during the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in Dendermonde, a race he also organises. Fouquenet becomes available after the decision by Arkea-B&B Hotels Women to cease operations, forcing several riders to seek new structures for 2026. Her timing could hardly be better. Over the past two winters, and especially during the current 2025-26 campaign, Fouquenet has taken a clear step towards the very top of the discipline.
“We believe in her,” Mettepenningen said. “She has a lot of motivation and is willing to base herself in Flanders for six months of the year. She has huge engine and commitment. Technically, there is still work to do with Mario De Clercq and Thomas Joseph, but with Amandine we can build a very strong story.”
That belief is underpinned by results. Fouquenet ends 2025 as one of the most consistent riders in the elite peloton. She has already taken multiple victories this winter, including wins at Quelneuc and Heusden-Zolder, and followed those with a second place in Gavere and a podium in Namur. Her form has been notable not just for peak performances but for depth, with regular top-five finishes across the World Cup, Superprestige and major international races. Earlier this season, she also became the first French rider to win an international cyclo-cross race since Pauline Ferrand-Prévot in 2017, a result that resonated well beyond France.
Mettepenningen sees Fouquenet as a cornerstone of Pauwels Sauzen’s women’s programme alongside Leonie Bentveld. “If she confirms this level, you have someone who can ride podiums week after week at elite level,” he explained. “For us, it was important to add another leader. We are very happy that we can line up every weekend with two riders who belong at the front.”
The negotiations moved quickly once Fouquenet made her decision. According to Mettepenningen, the rider finalised her choice after the World Cup round in Gavere. “She had a good feeling in the conversations with us. This morning everything was signed,” he said. Interest from rival teams had been significant, reflecting how closely her development has been followed across the cyclo-cross scene.
While Pauwels Sauzen-Altez Industriebouw is firmly focused on cyclo-cross, Fouquenet has also made clear that she wants to continue racing on the road. That creates an interesting secondary storyline. The Belgian team does not operate its own road squad, but already has an agreement in place with AG Insurance-Soudal for Leonie Bentveld. Mettepenningen confirmed that similar discussions are planned for Fouquenet.
“We have an agreement with AG Insurance-Soudal for Leonie Bentveld, and we will look at whether that is also possible for Amandine,” he said. “If not, we will explore whether we can build a French road programme so she can do her thing in the summer. The intention is that she is with us twelve months a year. Our priority is cyclo-cross, but on the road we want to guide her as well as we can. If that’s not possible, we will try again to reach an agreement with AG Insurance.”
For Fouquenet, the move brings structure at a key moment in her career. A former junior and U23 national champion, she has long been recognised as a talent, but the past two seasons have marked her definitive transition to elite contender. Her recent French elite title and top-ten finishes at European and World Championships underline that trajectory.
Signing with Pauwels Sauzen-Altez Industriebouw offers her a proven cyclo-cross environment, technical expertise, and a clear leadership role at a time when her confidence and results are converging. If a road programme can also be secured, 2026 could represent a decisive year not just for Fouquenet’s winter ambitions, but for her all-round development as a rider capable of impacting both disciplines.
