In a concerning twist for the French Continental women’s team, Komugi-Grand Est faces an uncertain future due to the loss of its primary sponsor, Komugi. Team president Laurent Goglione disclosed to DirectVelo that they are actively seeking new sponsorships to bridge a critical funding gap and enable the team to compete in the 2025 season. “We’re really trying to find a solution,” Goglione stated, “but there’s a risk we won’t be able to return.”
The team’s original plans to elevate to ProTeam status for 2025 have been shelved, as the budget required was beyond reach. Instead, they aim to remain at the Continental level, albeit only if new sponsors can be secured in the next two weeks. Goglione explained, “We were looking at two or three potential big sponsors, but it’s challenging to pull everything together given the current economic climate.”
The impact of the financial strain is evident, as several riders have been released to pursue other opportunities. Goglione emphasised that he made this decision early to give the riders a fair chance at securing placements elsewhere. Notably, Ségolène Thomas has been picked up by St-Michel, with Goglione highlighting her promising climbing abilities. “She’s one of the best French climbers of the future and can hold her own in Europe. On tough courses with mountain finishes like in the Pyrenees or Ardèche, she’ll be a strong contender,” he remarked.
However, some riders are still struggling to find new teams, including Victoire Joncheray, who had a strong season but remains unsigned. “It surprises me; perhaps she’s been overlooked. She’d be a valuable teammate in a larger squad,” Goglione reflected.
Photo Credit: Thomas MaheuxIn the face of Komugi’s withdrawal, Goglione has relied on long-standing supporters like David Roux, one of the team’s benefactors. If a new sponsor cannot be secured soon, the team might face a ‘year out’ in 2025 with a view to relaunch in 2026. “Losing a season isn’t ideal,” Goglione acknowledged, “but we’re considering a standstill to allow us time to rebuild.”
The contingency plan also includes structural adjustments, with the team keeping core staff contracts active through December, while the primary team base and foundational partnerships remain intact. Although Goglione admitted that some logistical preparations, such as kit and training camp reservations, are delayed, he insisted, “We may only start racing in March, but we’ll run through the season if we get the go-ahead.”
Looking ahead, Goglione revealed that the team’s ProTeam aspirations are temporarily on hold. Financial restrictions, including bank guarantees, created additional barriers that made it impractical to make the jump in 2025. “The budget itself, at around €800,000, was feasible,” he noted, “but the bank demands to secure a percentage of our wage costs in reserve would drain resources that we need elsewhere.”
Reflecting on the season past, Goglione noted that the team’s performance was solid but not exceptional enough to justify the leap to ProTeam. “We had an average season and didn’t win any big races, so there’s more to learn before making that step,” he added.
