Vincent Lavenu, who joined Ma Petite Entreprise after leaving Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale last year, has confirmed to DirectVelo that he has thrown his support behind the plan to establish a new women’s ProTeam for the 2026 season. Originally conceived as a dual project for both a men’s and women’s squad, financial realities and team quotas mean the immediate focus is now solely on creating a ProTeam of twelve riders, mostly French.
At a gathering in Chambéry, where founders Emeric Ducruet and Olivier Pizzo first discussed their dream of a team back in 2020, Lavenu explained the work required to make this happen. He said they are optimistic and can see the trajectory going in the right direction, but they will only press the go button when they are sure. Every day is spent working to make the economic model sustainable.
That work centres on talking to sponsors and investors at all levels. Lavenu outlined the scale of this task, noting that there are around 400 companies to contact. Even when the project is well-received, the team has to go back to people several times to persuade them to sign up, which takes a lot of time and energy. Lavenu also spoke warmly about why he chose to come on board. Despite the hard work, he enjoys being part of this venture because it aligns with his values. It is a project that defends French entrepreneurship, and as someone who knows what it takes to run a business, that resonates with him. Like cycling, entrepreneurship requires daily commitment, risk-taking and resilience.
Lavenu explained that the original aim was to establish both men’s and women’s teams, but the financial landscape and existing French team quotas changed the plan. There are already ten men’s pro teams under Ligue rules, making it very difficult to recruit strong riders without simply becoming an also-ran. That is why they decided to focus first on launching a women’s ProTeam. The long-term goal of eventually creating both squads still stands, but for now, all their energy is going into the women’s setup for 2026.
He also made it clear that Ma Petite Entreprise hopes to revive the kind of development structure that once flourished in Chambéry. Three decades ago, the area supported around twenty professional riders, driven by a training centre that emphasised sporting progress and education together. The plan is to do the same for women, creating a sustainable pipeline so that pursuing cycling professionally does not come at the cost of academic or career prospects.
Frenc ProTeams and Tour de France Femmes ambitions
That local focus is bolstered by shifting dynamics across French cycling. Lavenu acknowledged that French ProTeams might decrease in number next year. Arkea-B&B Hotels is currently searching for a new sponsor, and there are also strong rumours of a merger between Cofidis and Ceratizit. That’s fuelled by the German WorldTour team needing new backing for 2026. These changes could leave gaps at the ProTeam level that Ma Petite Entreprise could help fill.
Lavenu also clarified that Proteam’s status comes with significant sporting opportunities. In particular, it provides a realistic pathway to receiving one of the wildcard invitations for major races like the Tour de France Femmes. That kind of exposure is invaluable, drawing global attention and making the project all the more attractive to sponsors.
With the UCI’s application deadline for ProTeams approaching at the end of September, Lavenu knows that the next few months will be decisive. Discussions with small and medium-sized companies, as well as larger players who could come in at the 50,000 or 100,000-euro level, are well advanced. The team can accelerate its plans once one or two major sponsors commit.
Reflecting on the path so far, Lavenu is realistic but hopeful. The project is underpinned by regional support, strong entrepreneurial principles and a proven blueprint for developing local talent. Provided they can secure the financial backing this summer, Ma Petite Entreprise’s ambition to launch a new women’s ProTeam looks to be on the right track, with an eye on future opportunities in a rapidly changing landscape.
