Forget what you knew about “AG2R.” That name is gone after 33 years.
Welcome to the era of Decathlon CMA CGM.
For the 2026 season, the French squad has undergone a total revolution. With Decathlon now stepping up as the Team Owner (not just a sponsor) and the arrival of logistics giant CMA CGM, the budget has skyrocketed. The goal is no longer just “winning a stage”. Management has explicitly targeted a Top 5 WorldTour Ranking.
Based historically in Chambéry (the heart of the Alps) but spiritually connected to Lille, the home of Decathlon and Van Rysel, the team is attacking on all fronts: Paris-Roubaix, The Classics, the Green Jersey, and the General Classification.
This guide breaks down the massive tech switch to SRAM, the signing of Olav Kooij, and why the young French sensation Paul Seixas is the rider everyone is watching.
The “Chosen One”: Paul Seixas
While the media focuses on the transfers, the heart of this project is 19-year-old Paul Seixas. After a stunning 2025 season where he crushed the junior ranks and won the Tour de l’Avenir, Seixas is skipping the U23 ranks entirely.
The Tour de France Question: It is his dream. And with Felix Gall vacating the leadership spot, the path is technically clear.
- The Reality: Management is cautious, but his early calendar is a “WorldTour Graduation” test.
- The Test: If he survives the Strade Bianche and Liège-Bastogne-Liège (his first Monument), the clamor to bring him to the Tour de France start line in Barcelona will be impossible to ignore.
Confirmed 2026 Schedule:
- Feb 18: Volta ao Algarve
- Feb 28: Faun-Ardèche Classic
- Mar 07: Strade Bianche (A massive test on gravel)
- Apr 06: Itzulia Basque Country
- Apr 22: La Flèche Wallonne
- Apr 26: Liège-Bastogne-Liège
The Ambition: “Conquer” The Green Jersey
The signing of Olav Kooij from Visma | Lease a Bike is the biggest statement of the winter.
- The Goal: The Green Jersey at the Tour de France 2026.
- The Train: Kooij isn’t coming alone. He brings a dedicated leadout train including Tiesj Benoot and Cees Bol.
- The Shift: This transforms the team from a pure “climber’s squad” into a dominant sprint force.
The Grand Tour Split: Gall to the Giro, Riccitello to the Tour?
The confirmed race calendars reveal a bold strategic shift. The team appears to be splitting its leaders to attack all three Grand Tours, leaving the biggest race of the year in the hands of the “Young Guns.”
- Giro d’Italia (May): Led by Felix Gall.
- The Plan: After a Top 5 at the 2025 Tour, Gall targets the Maglia Rosa in Italy. His confirmed schedule (Tirreno -> Catalunya -> Giro) is a classic “Pink Jersey” build-up.
- Tour de France (July):The Youth Revolution.
- The Gap: With Gall in Italy, the door is wide open for Matthew Riccitello. It is highly probable he debuts as the GC leader (targeting the White Jersey) before pivoting to the Vuelta.
- The Green Goal: Olav Kooij is the undisputed leader for the sprint stages.
- Vuelta a España (Aug):Riccitello’s Main Target.
- The Plan: Confirmed for August 22nd. This will likely be his “Peak GC” performance after using the Tour de France to build massive engine depth.
The Support: They will be backed by a fortified climbing unit including Gregor Mühlberger (mountain domestique), Aurélien Paret-Peintre, and the young cyclo-cross star Léo Bisiaux.
2026 Bike Tech: The SRAM Revolution
The biggest technical news in the peloton is Decathlon’s switch from Shimano to SRAM Red AXS.
Why the switch? According to the team’s head mechanic, it wasn’t just sponsorship money. The mechanics pushed for SRAM for two reasons:
- Simplicity: The wireless setup makes building and traveling with 380+ bikes significantly faster.
- Gearing: The riders preferred the 12-speed 10-36T cassette range for tackling steep gradients without changing chainrings.
DECATHLON CMA CGM 2026 Bikes Specs
- Bike: Van Rysel RCR-R / RCR-F (Road) / RCR-X (TT).
- Groupset: SRAM Red AXS (12-speed wireless).
- Cassette: SRAM 12 speed 10-36T / 10-33T / 10-30T
- Power Meter: SRAM Red AXS Power Meter (Integrated).
- Wheels: Swiss Side Hadron2 Ultimate.
- Tires: Continental GP5000 S TR (Tubeless Only – 28mm).
- Pedals: Look Keo Blade Ceramic.
- Saddle: Fizik Vento Argo 00 Adaptive (3D Printed).
- Computer: Wahoo Elemnt ROAM.
- Lubricants: Muc-off
- Bottle cage: Elite
The Wear (Decathlon Rider Gear)
- Kit: Van Rysel (Racer Range)
- Helmets: Van Rysel RCR (Aero) / Van Rysel FCR (Ventilated)
- Sunglasses: Van Rysel RoadR 900 (High definition lenses)
- Shoes: Van Rysel RCR Pro (Carbon sole)
🚴♂️ Shop the 2026 “Super Team” Gear
Ride the same equipment as Olav Kooij and Matthew Riccitello.
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👟 The Connection: Look Keo Blade Ceramic French pedals for a French team. Lightweight and ultra-stiff.Check Price
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🛞 The Grip: Continental GP5000 S TR Tubeless only for 2026. The fastest tire in the peloton.Check Price
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🖥️ The Data: Wahoo Elemnt ROAM v3 Crystal clear navigation for those long training rides.Check Price
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💺 The Comfort: Fizik Vento Argo 00 Short-nose design with 3D printed adaptive padding options.Check Price
The “Aussie” Connection
Surprisingly, this French team has a strong Australian heartbeat in the staff car. Mark Renshaw, Heinrich Haussler, and Luke Roberts are all part of the performance management, bringing that “no-nonsense” Aussie racing mentality to the French structure.
Transfers IN (The “Super Team” Upgrade)
| Rider | From Team | Role |
|---|---|---|
| KOOIJ Olav | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | Green Jersey Leader |
| RICCITELLO Matthew | Israel – Premier Tech | GC Leader |
| BENOOT Tiesj | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | Classics Captain / Leadout |
| BOL Cees | Astana Qazaqstan | Leadout Pilot |
| HOOLE Daan | Lidl – Trek | Rouleur / Engine |
| MÜHLBERGER Gregor | Movistar Team | Climbing Domestique |
| ANDRESEN Tobias Lund | Team dsm-firmenich | Sprinter |
| GHYS Robbe | Alpecin – Deceuninck | Leadout |
| L’HOTE Antoine | Development Team | Neo-Pro |
Transfers OUT (The Clean Out)
| Rider | Goes To |
|---|---|
| COSNEFROY Benoît | UAE Team Emirates |
| BENNETT Sam | Pinarello – Q36.5 |
| LAFAY Victor | Unibet Rose Rockets |
| GODON Dorian | INEOS Grenadiers |
| ARMIRAIL Bruno | Team Visma | Lease a Bike |
| VENDRAME Andrea | Team Jayco AlUla |
| DE BONDT Dries | Team Jayco AlUla |
Complete Decathlon CMA CGM 2026 Roster
| Rider Name | Nationality | Key Role (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| KOOIJ Olav | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | Sprinter / Green Jersey |
| GALL Felix | 🇦🇹 Austria | GC Leader (Tour de France) |
| RICCITELLO Matthew | 🇺🇸 USA | GC Leader (Vuelta / White Jersey) |
| SEIXAS Paul | 🇫🇷 France | The “Chosen One” |
| BENOOT Tiesj | 🇧🇪 Belgium | Classics Captain |
| BISSEGGER Stefan | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | TT Specialist / Engine |
| LAPEIRA Paul | 🇫🇷 France | Puncher |
| PARET-PEINTRE Aurélien | 🇫🇷 France | Stage Hunter / Climber |
| NAESEN Oliver | 🇧🇪 Belgium | Road Captain |
| BOL Cees | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | Leadout |
| DEWULF Stan | 🇧🇪 Belgium | Classics / Domestique |
| HOOLE Daan | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | Rouleur / TT |
| MÜHLBERGER Gregor | 🇦🇹 Austria | Mountain Support |
| ANDRESEN Tobias Lund | 🇩🇰 Denmark | Sprinter |
| GHYS Robbe | 🇧🇪 Belgium | Leadout / Track |
| GAUTHERAT Pierre | 🇫🇷 France | Classics Talent |
| BISIAUX Léo | 🇫🇷 France | Young Talent (CX) |
| PRODHOMME Nicolas | 🇫🇷 France | Climber |
| STAUNE-MITTET Johannes | 🇳🇴 Norway | Climber / Young Talent |
| CHAMBERLAIN Oscar | 🇦🇺 Australia | Young Talent / TT |
| SCOTSON Callum | 🇦🇺 Australia | Domestique |
| DE PESTEL Sander | 🇧🇪 Belgium | Domestique |
| GUDMESTAD Tord | 🇳🇴 Norway | Sprinter / Leadout |
| ISIDORE Noa | 🇫🇷 France | Young Talent |
| L’HOTE Antoine | 🇫🇷 France | Neo-Pro |
| LABROSSE Jordan | 🇫🇷 France | Puncher |
| PEDERSEN Rasmus Søjberg | 🇩🇰 Denmark | Classics |
| POLLEFLIET Gianluca | 🇧🇪 Belgium | Sprinter / Leadout |
The Optimizer’s Verdict
This calendar confirmation changes everything. Sending Felix Gall to the Giro is a masterstroke, it clears the deck for the “Young Guns” at the Tour de France.
Decathlon CMA CGM is taking a massive gamble: They are sending a Tour de France squad without a veteran GC safety net. It will be Olav Kooij hunting sprints, Matthew Riccitello hunting the White Jersey, and (I predict) Paul Seixas making his debut to electrify the French public.
It is risky. It is bold. And it makes them the most exciting team to watch in July.
But do they have the fastest bikes to support this youth revolution? See how the Van Rysel RCR Pro stacks up against the “Superbikes” of UAE and Visma in my complete WorldTour 2026 Team Bikes Master Guide.