Paris (AFP)
The cycling team Vital Concept, created two years ago, will take the name next year of its second partner, B & B Hotels, and will be more international, announced Thursday its creator and manager Jerome Pineau.
The hotel chain, which has committed for two years, will double its investment in the team that will become from 1 January B & B Hotels - Vital Concept.
"Our development project is based on the long term," said Jerome Pineau, training manager who has not been able to participate since its inception at the Tour de France. "We are a Breton team, born in Morbihan, supported by local institutions and players, but we want to make our region shine internationally in the most beautiful way".
"Cycling is one of the only sports that allows us to reach our audience in a universal way, in France, Germany, Spain and Italy where we are leaders, and in all the markets where we are present," said for his Vincent Quandalle, general manager of B & B Hotels France.
The hotel chain said it will be established in thirteen countries and aim for the participation of its team in the "biggest races of the world, the big towers as the monuments".
Jérôme Pineau, who had recruited several experienced French riders (Cyril Gautier, Pierre Rolland, Arthur Vichot) in the last offseason, has not yet announced a major reinforcement. But he promised: "Our recruitment will be more international than the last two years and our shopping calendar is more international."
For now, Bryan Coquard (27), winner of eight races this season, remains his rider.
© 2019 AFP