Geoffrey Bouchard, Paul Lapeira, Oliver Naesen, and Andrea Vendrame have all signed contract extensions that will keep them with the AG2R CITROËN team until 2025. Larry Warbasse has also extended his contract by one season. Naesen has been with the team since 2017, while Bouchard and Warbasse joined in 2019, Vendrame in 2020, and Lapeira in 2022.
Vincent Lavenu, team manager, expressed the importance of these extensions in building the team for the future:
“This wave of extensions is an important moment in building the team for future seasons. If new faces are going to join us, seeing these riders prolong their stay within our structure is essential. They are the cement of the team. They are all part of its history and the guarantors of its philosophy.”
Geoffrey Bouchard spoke about his extended contract and his enthusiasm for continuing to progress within the team:
“It’s the next logical step. I’d like to thank Vincent (Lavenu) and the whole team for giving me my chance five years ago, and for trusting me again for the next two seasons. I’ve managed to put a lot of things in place since the start of the adventure, but there’s still more to come. I’m very enthusiastic about the idea of continuing to progress in the various roles that the team has entrusted me with.”
Paul Lapeira expressed his desire to continue his progression with AG2R CITROËN:
“I wanted to stay with the AG2R CITROËN team! After my formative years with the team (U19 and U23) and my first two seasons with the professionals, I want to continue my progression. I’m a rider who likes stability, and the environment in which I’m evolving is perfect for me.”
Oliver Naesen is excited to continue writing new pages with the team:
“I’m continuing my adventure with the team in a different role to the one I’ve had for the past seven seasons. I’ll be working more as a team member alongside our leaders, and I’m determined to continue giving my all every time I wear this hat. Of course, the classics will remain an important highlight of my season.”
Andrea Vendrame is grateful for the opportunity to extend his contract and aims to achieve continued success:
“This extension is a very good thing for me. My arrival in the team changed a lot of things four years ago. I feel really good here. The aim will remain to raise my arms as much as possible, for myself, for the team, and for all our partners.”
Larry Warbasse, who extended his contract for one more season, expresses his excitement as team captain:
“I’m really happy to be continuing my story with the AG2R CITROËN team. I’m enjoying my role as team captain. We have a lot of young riders, and it’s a great pleasure for me to pass on and share my knowledge. I want to continue to do my best to help our leaders perform at the highest level, and also to seize my chance when it comes.”
Oliver Naesen, who has been with the team since 2017, has been linked to the AG2R CITROËN team until 2025, making it his eighth and ninth seasons with the team. Naesen, a 32-year-old Belgian rider, has had notable wins, including the national title of Belgian champion in 2017 and the Bretagne Classic – Ouest France in 2019.
