The Cofidis Group, a consumer credit company familiar to all cycling fans as a team sponsor for decades, has extended its commitment to pro cycling. Its sponsorship of the Cofidis team was in place until the end of 2022, and now that date has been extended all the way to the end of 2025. Five more years! Five more years!
It’s not just an extended contract, either, but an improved commitment to French cycling, with an agreement to increase the UCI World Tour team’s budget by €1.5 million per year.
Beyond that, the disabled sports team that Cofidis has backed since 1999 will continue to be backed with a long-term commitment. And, most enticingly, a new Cofidis women’s team is launching in 2022, racing in the Continental with a budget of €1 million per year.
A Beautiful Shared History
Since 1996, the Cofidis team has established itself as a key player in world cycling. Each rider and each member of the team’s staff is committed to being faithful to the values of the Cofidis Group in order to be its ambassadors in every competition and beyond. “Fighting spirit, team spirit, solidarity, collective effort, which are essential notions within the team, are also conveyed on a daily basis within our companies,” explains Thierry Vittu.
This approach, which is as rich in human terms as it is virtuous for all of the company’s employees, is destined to continue over time. “The notion of loyalty is particularly important within Cofidis Group. “While the previous agreement ran until the end of the 2022 season, the President of Cofidis Compétition presented the group’s Executive Committee with a proposal to extend the agreement. It was unanimously decided to continue the adventure until 2025.
“This will allow us to continue to progress and develop over the long term”, says Thierry Vittu, who also obtained an increase in the budget of 1.5 million euros per year. With this 2025 horizon, a new phase of development will begin,” says Cédric Vasseur, the general manager. It offers stability and allows us to start a new era where we will focus on being more ambitious. “
A Force to be Reckoned With in Women’s Cycling
At the same time, Cofidis Group is preparing to form a women’s team. This women’s team, which will be officially launched on 1 January 2022 in the Continental (2nd division), is also intended to be a long-term project. “We are going to devote a substantial budget to it – around 1 million euros per year – in order to be ambitious and as competitive as possible,” he continues.
Gaël Le Bellec, who has solid experience in women’s cycling, has been commissioned by Cofidis Compétition to put together a team of around ten female riders. The objective is to make a place for ourselves and to be a force to be reckoned with in the biggest competitions on the calendar,” says Cédric Vasseur. The resources mobilised and the commitment of Cofidis to cycling, through its longevity at the highest level, will be precious arguments for building a high-performance team.
The women’s team will also benefit from the expertise of the men’s section. Synergies will be encouraged as much as possible and a joint presence at the pre-season training camp – as is the case with the handi team – is notably envisaged.