French ProTeam to be called FDJ-BigMat as extra funding allows team to reinforce its place in the top division
Just days after successfully securing a ProTeam license for 2012, FDJ has added new sponsor BigMat International to its list of partners, and will be known as FDJ-BigMat. The chain of builders’ merchants has been an on-off sponsor of cycling since 1993, most prominently as the main sponsor of BigMat-Auber 93 between 1997 and 2003, then 2010 to 2011. It had negotiated with the Garmin-Cervélo team earlier this year, with a view to sponsoring the American outfit, but failed to reach an agreement.
The deal is to be worth €2 million per year, which gives the team – which has raced as a Professional Continental team in 2011 – the opportunity to reinforce.
"The arrival of this new partner, allowing us to strengthen us in respect of our values, gives us the resources for new ambitions," said team manager Marc Madiot.
What this means for current Continental team BigMat-Auber 93, run by Stéphane Javalet, is not clear. The team was historically part of the sport’s second division – except for 2002 when it was in division one – and took part in the Tour de France on a number of occasions. Since 2004, when BigMat departed the first time, it has been run as a third division team and worked on the development of a number of young French riders.
FDJ’s current riders Steve Chainel, Arnold Jeannesson and William Bonnet began their careers at Javalet’s team.