In a move underscoring its commitment to nurturing emerging talent, Arkéa Pro Cycling Team, soon to be rebranded as Arkea-B&B Hotels in 2024, has announced contract extensions for riders Maurène Trégouët and Danielle de Francesco.
Maurène Trégouët, originally from Brittany, remarked that her transition from junior to professional cycling has been smoother than expected, despite the steep learning curve of her first season in the UCI WorldTour. “I feel a sense of gratitude towards the team for renewing their faith in me,” Trégouët stated. She continued to explain that the rapport she has built with the team during her junior years has provided her with a supportive environment for learning the ropes of professional cycling. Trégouët lauded her role as a team member supporting her leaders, which allows her to “progress without skipping the steps.”
Australian Danielle de Francesco expressed her delight in finding a home at Arkéa Pro Cycling Team. “They showed immediate trust in me,” she said. Despite having a disrupted start to the 2023 season [due to the Zaaf Cycling situation], de Francesco found her footing in what she described as a “young but very dynamic collective.” Although she’s the oldest rider on the team, the former triathlete, who’s only wrapping up her second professional season, emphasized that she still has “a lot to learn.”
Emmanuel Hubert, the General Manager of the team, was unequivocal about both riders’ promise. Trégouët’s performance during her first season, particularly while balancing her sporting ambitions with academic pursuits, “made her contract extension a no-brainer,” according to Hubert. As for de Francesco, Hubert praised her quick adaptation to the team culture and her impressive performance in her first Tour de France Women, especially her ascent of the Tourmalet. He noted that de Francesco “still has plenty of room for improvement,” a sentiment aligned with the team’s development strategy for both its men’s and women’s squads.
As the Arkéa Pro Cycling Team prepares to transition into Arkea-B&B Hotels, the contract renewals of Trégouët and de Francesco signify the team’s investment in the future. It’s a future that looks increasingly bright, with young riders evidently committed to elevating both themselves and the team to the very top echelons of professional cycling.
