As a new season approaches, the team is preparing to write a new chapter in its history. We meet with Thomas Damuseau, Director of Operations, and Jean-Baptiste Quiclet, Director of Performance, to take a behind-the-scenes look at how a season is built, from the initial ideas to the first pedal strokes.
1 - When preparation rhymes with precision
The seasons come and go, but no two are alike: technical developments, changes in partners, equipment suppliers, riders even staff members... Like a balancing act, a cycling team must be built on solid foundations. That's why each new season is prepared with meticulous precision, in order to build a stable base capable of supporting the ambitions for the year ahead. This preparation is based on several criteria that raise many questions.
These issues must be addressed one by one in order to anticipate each year, the needs that may differ depending on partners, riders objectives. For example, in 2026, the stability of the contract with Van Rysel allows us to be confident, to be able to place orders in advance, and to know the equipment: "we're not starting from scratch,", adds Thomas. However, the situation can sometimes be the opposite when there is a change of equipment supplier. It is therefore necessary to train mechanics specifically on the new equipment, in addition to the annual training program. Another example is on the recruitment side: "With the arrival of Olav Kooij and the sprinters' train, more aero frames, reinforced pedals, and specific gear shifters were ordered. As soon as we have information about the riders for 2026, we will update the orders,"says Thomas.
All these decisions must be made with performance in mind, which remains the priority. The division is highly agile in adapting to different suppliers and the timing of workforce validation. "We have a basic order of 70%, and we have a 30% margin depending on recruitment,"says Thomas. Before preparing for the season, it is therefore essential to take stock of all these different factors. But when is the right time to address all these issues?
2 - Behind every decision, a specific timeframe
While the off-season may seem like a quiet period for riders, this is not the case for staff. “We work in sync with the cycling season. October, November, and December are actually a very busy time: we have three months to prepare the bikes, vehicles, and clothing," explains Thomas Damuseau. Three months, then, to get everything that has been thought out and planned well in advance up and running. Around fifteen people, including mechanics and logisticians, work hard to make sure everything is ready.
The strategic part actually begins much earlier, in the middle of the current season, between six months and a year in advance. "We have to anticipate equipment needs, based on advice from the innovation department in conjunction with Swiss Side,"explains Thomas. The idea is that orders arrive during the summer so that mechanics then have time to prepare the bikes: "Not only do we have to assemble it mechanically, but we also have to create its passport, which means putting it in stock and entering it into the computer," adds Thomas.
During the first team-building camp in October, bike fitting is carried out for all riders that everyone can return home with their 2026 training bike. As for the time trial bike, the equipment is pre-assembled. Tests are carried out on the track in November and final adjustments are made during the December camp, in order to make any last necessary adjustments during this camp: "It's during the first efforts that you get the best feel for your position on the time trial bike, so we prioritize changes during the training camps," says Thomas.
The 2025 season ended in mid-October, and riders their 2026 bikes at home by the end of the month. This demonstrates the team's agility in making time an ally of performance.
3 - Preparing for a season from a sporting perspective
In terms of sports, the idea is also to plan ahead as much as possible so that the performance center can be up and running very quickly. Five coaches work with all the riders on a daily basis, supported by the head coach and the performance director.
From initial discussions in October
Even before the first pedal strokes,, you have to learn how to build a relationship and establish a working method with each rider. "The coach-trainee relationship is very valuable and needs to be nurtured on a daily basis," says Jean-Baptiste. Phone calls, emails, training plans... everyone has their own method, as long as it is effective and suits both parties.
To ensure that the relationship runs smoothly from the very first races, it needs to be well prepared. "In October, we were fortunate enough to have all the riders together at the performance center, which gave us an opportunity to talk with them for the first time," explains Jean-Baptiste. This was an opportunity to talk to each of the riders individually, learn about their lifestyles, any constraints they may have, their goals for 2026, and establish a working method. To help them, the coaches have access to data riders new riders previous seasons so they can quickly establish an effective working method.
Before setting the objectives and schedule in November
Once the training method has been decided with the riders, usually in October, a meeting with all the sports directors is held in November to set the goals for the season: the idea is clear, to arrive at the races with the best possible team. "At this meeting, we select the most important races on the calendar for the team and assign riders to them. That's how we build the backbone of the calendar,"says Jean-Baptiste. The entire 2026 calendar is reviewed to assign riders to each race. "We analyze the race routes, particularly that of the Tour de France: depending on whether there is a team time trial, as there is this year, we won't line up exactly the same riders build our preparation without taking this into account,"explains Jean-Baptiste. All the races on the calendar are detailed, with the associated desires and needs for each one. This means that in December, each rider a preliminary calendar for their 2026 season, regardless of their role. This program is, of course, provisional and will be adjusted throughout the season.
Organize resources in December
Once the objectives have been set and the riders , the next step is to discuss the methods to be used: individual training sessions? Group training sessions? Wind tunnel tests? Team time trial training? All of this will be determined based on the objectives of the team, each rider each race, and prepared with meticulous precision. "Another example is the 2026 Tour de France: it will start with a team time trial. So we will focus particularly on this exercise in preparation for the Grande Boucle, and adapt the training schedule accordingly," emphasizes Jean-Baptiste. As for the other training camps and methods, these will depend on the objectives of each rider. "Preparation races no longer exist. We line up for races to perform and to win. To train, we will do several training camps with different training groups,"adds Jean-Baptiste. Find out more in video the secrets of the team's preparation.
Each season therefore has its share of uncertainties and predictable elements, and the 2026 season is no exception. As we have seen, it promises to be exciting and has already been well underway for several months. With the arrival of CMA CGM as title partner, Adecco as official partner, and new riders, a promising season is on the horizon... So stay tuned to find out what's next!
