# TotalEnergies Cycling Team Secures Three-Year Sponsorship Deal The French cycling squad avoids collapse with a new title sponsor announcement imminent. - **Source:** [Cyclingnews](https://www.cyclingnews.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-06 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/7e9f08d4-3bee-40dd-9bca-3a727ab257d3 ## Sponsorship Deal Saves Team The TotalEnergies cycling squad has successfully secured a new three-year title sponsorship, ending months of intense financial uncertainty. Managers Jean-René Bernaudeau and Stéphane Heulot are expected to make an official announcement on November 9. This agreement provides the necessary bank guarantee required to finalize the team's 2027 budget and licensing paperwork. ## Meeting Critical Licensing Deadlines The team faced a major hurdle after missing the October 15 deadline to file for a 2027 license due to sponsorship gaps. Bernaudeau had set a strict internal cutoff of October 31 to secure funding. By meeting this target, the organization avoids potential disbandment and maintains its professional status within the peloton. ## Mass Exodus of Talent The period of instability caused a significant loss of riders, with many top performers departing for WorldTour teams. GC hopeful Jordan Jegat signed with Lidl-Trek, while Classics specialist Anthony Turgis moved to XDS Astana. Other key figures like Alexandre Delettre and Emilien Jeannière joined Groupama-FDJ, leaving the roster severely depleted for upcoming seasons. ## Future Roster Uncertainty While many riders have exited, 14 members remain without announced contracts for 2027. Bernaudeau is currently working to retain key talents like Classic Var winner Jason Tesson and Joris Delbove. The team must now navigate an aggressive transfer market to rebuild a competitive squad capable of performing at a high professional level. ## Historical Context of Survival Founded in 1986, the team has a long history of navigating financial volatility. They previously faced near-collapse in 2010 before Europcar stepped in as a sponsor. The organization has cycled through various identities, including Bouygues Télécom and Team Europcar, often relying on title sponsors to maintain their presence in the professional cycling circuit. ## Ambitions and WorldTour Status The team previously held high ambitions of rejoining the WorldTour, notably signing superstar Peter Sagan in 2019. However, Sagan's tenure yielded only one race victory, and the team failed to meet promotion criteria by 2025. They now face a long road ahead if they hope to regain their top-tier status by 2029. ## Current Competitive Standing In 2026, the team finished behind Pinarello-Q36.5, Tudor, and Cofidis, missing out on automatic invitations to Grand Tours. Despite this, they remain eligible for wildcard entries due to their top 30 UCI ranking. As the fourth-best ProTeam, they will continue to receive invitations to participate in prestigious one-day WorldTour cycling events. ## Strategic Outlook Ahead The immediate focus for management is finalizing the budget and stabilizing the roster. With the sponsorship secured, the team must now execute a precise recruitment strategy to replace departed riders. Success over the next three years is essential if they intend to remain relevant and eventually climb back into the WorldTour rankings. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.cyclingnews.com/pro-cycling/teams-riders/totalenergies-team-survives-as-new-three-year-sponsor-announcement-imminent/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._