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XEFI has agreed to become title sponsor of the French team currently known as TotalEnergies, allowing the ProTeam to continue next year. The deal is believed to run for three years, but the team faces a major rebuild after losing riders during months of uncertainty; only one rider is currently under contract.
French IT company XEFI will become title sponsor of the team currently known as TotalEnergies, securing the French ProTeam’s continuation next year after months of uncertainty over its finances and future. The agreement is believed to span three years, although its exact terms have not been confirmed in the source report.
The team, founded in 2000 by former professional rider Jean-René Bernaudeau, had been in limbo since before the Tour de France. Its principal backer, TotalEnergies, had said it would end its relationship with the squad at the end of the season. The new XEFI deal gives the team a path to continue racing, though its new name and the full financial details were not specified in the report.
The sponsor change comes after a difficult transfer period. The squad lost Anthony Turgis, Jordan Jegat, Pierre Thierry, Alexandre Delettre and Nicolas Breuillard, who are moving to XDS Astana, Lidl-Trek, Cofidis, Groupama-FDJ and XDS Astana, respectively. The report says that, as things stand, only one rider remains under contract, leaving the team with substantial work to do on its roster.
Stéphane Heulot remains team manager, while Bernaudeau has recruited former French professional Tony Gallopin as sports director. Gallopin, a Tour de France stage winner who wore the yellow jersey in 2014, is due to join in January. He previously worked with Heulot at Lotto and accompanied TotalEnergies during this year’s Tour.
A Sponsor Secures the Team’s Future
The deal removes the immediate threat that the team might cease operating after TotalEnergies’ departure. It also gives management a basis for planning beyond the end of the current season, at a time when uncertainty had already affected rider decisions and left the roster depleted.
Continuation does not automatically guarantee a place in the Tour de France. The report says the team will be able to line up at the start of the 2027 Tour if invited. That distinction matters: the sponsorship secures the team’s ability to carry on, but participation in the race remains dependent on an invitation.
The sponsorship change also shifts TotalEnergies’ presence elsewhere in cycling. According to the report, the company is set to become a naming and jersey sponsor of rival WorldTour team Netcompany-Ineos while further strengthening its partnership with Tour organiser ASO.
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How the Sponsorship Gap Developed
TotalEnergies’ planned exit left Bernaudeau’s Vendée-based team without a title sponsor during an important stretch of the season. The uncertainty lasted for months and was already evident before the Tour de France. With the squad’s future unresolved, the transfer market continued, and several riders opted to join other teams.
The incoming sponsor is a French IT company. Bernaudeau described the partnership as more than a commercial arrangement, while the report characterizes the expected deal as a three-year agreement. XEFI’s backing now allows the team to continue, but the departures mean sponsorship is only one part of rebuilding the operation.
Gallopin’s appointment adds a new sports director to the leadership group. His experience includes a Tour stage victory, wearing the yellow jersey in 2014 and working with Heulot at Lotto. He is expected to begin in January, after accompanying the team during this year’s Tour de France.
“The fact that Jean-René and Stéphane can now plan years ahead again, after a season finale disrupted by circumstances, is a great reward for their work.”
— Tony Gallopin, incoming sports director
The Roster and Deal Terms
The report describes the sponsorship as believed to be a three-year agreement, rather than giving confirmed contract terms. It does not provide the value of the deal, a formal announcement of the team’s new name, or details about how the sponsorship budget will be allocated.
The rider situation is also unsettled. Only one rider is reported to remain under contract, but the report does not identify that rider or list new signings. It is not yet clear how quickly the team can assemble a full roster or which riders will join before the next season begins.
The team’s continuation should not be confused with guaranteed Tour de France participation. Its place at the 2027 Tour depends on an invitation, and no invitation is confirmed in the source material.
Roster Building Begins in January
Management can now work on staffing and rider recruitment with XEFI’s backing in place. Gallopin is due to join as sports director in January, while Heulot remains team manager. The next practical indicators will be announcements about the team’s name, sponsor arrangements and rider contracts.
The source report does not give a timetable for further signings or specify when the agreement’s full terms will be made public. The team’s longer-term race plans will also depend on invitations, including any decision about the 2027 Tour de France.
Key Questions
What is the news about the TotalEnergies team?
XEFI will become title sponsor of the French team currently known as TotalEnergies, allowing the ProTeam to continue next year after its existing principal sponsor leaves.
How long is the XEFI sponsorship deal?
The agreement is believed to be for three years, according to the report. The source material does not confirm the contract’s exact length or financial terms.
Will the team race in the 2027 Tour de France?
The team will be able to start the 2027 Tour if invited. Its participation is not confirmed, because an invitation is still required.
Who will lead the team next season?
Stéphane Heulot remains team manager, and Tony Gallopin is set to join as sports director in January. Jean-René Bernaudeau founded the team and welcomed the new sponsorship.
How many riders remain under contract?
The report says that, as things stand, one rider remains under contract. It does not name the rider or provide a list of new signings.
Source: cyclingweekly.com
