Bretagne-Schuller has boosted its roster for next season by signing WorldTour riders Dimitri Champion and Geoffroy Lequatre from AG2R La Mondiale and Team RadioShack, respectively. The French team has endured a modest season with only seven wins but team manager Emmanuel Hubert says the team showed its presence in some important races.
“There was a lack of success. We had a couple of second places. If you turn three or four second places into victories, it would have been a very successful season,” he told Cyclism'Actu.
“We showed a strong team performance with victories in the team standings in high-level races like the Tour du Limousin and the Four Days of Dunkirk.”
Former French national titleholder Champion returns to the team he rode for in 2009 after two seasons with AG2R La Mondiale. He had an extensive racing program and rode both the Tour de France last year and the Vuelta a España this year. However, the 28 year old failed to pick up a single victory in either season, a contrast to the six races he won in 2009 with Bretagne-Schuller.
“I am very happy to return to the structure that I know well,” said Champion. “Bretagne-Schuller is the team with which I won my title of champion of France and I appreciate the structure. 2012 will be an important year for me. I will come back motivated and I want to show with my heart that I am cyclist.”
Hubert was quick to praise Lequatre after the news was made public and believes the Frenchman can target the overall in a race such as Paris-Nice. The RadioShack rider’s biggest accomplishment to date is winning Tour of Britian in 2008. General manager Joel Blevins was confident that both riders would add depth to the team.
“With Dimitri Champion and Geoffroy Lequatre, we can count on two talented recruits with experience. This will be ideal for the further development of our young Britons. And if these riders trust us after experiencing the highest level in cycling, it is that we have a most serious image,” he said to Sportbreizh.
Bretagne-Schuller was on the UCI’s list of applicants for Pro Continental status next year, to ensure they get invited to some of the biggest races in cycling.