Cyclisme : French Team Shifts Focus to Women's Cycling, Disbanding Men's Squad

Historic French cycling team St Michel-Preference Home-Auber 93 is set to dissolve its men's squad to fully commit to its women's ProTeam starting in 2027. This pivotal shift highlights the growing focus on women's cycling in an evolving sport.

What follows puts the whole situation in context: the men's team has a rich history, thriving in the 1980s and turning professional in 1994, even participating in the Tour de France in the late 90s and early 2000s as BigMat–Auber 93. Despite its storied past, the men's team has not competed in the Tour since 2001 and has struggled to maintain relevance.

In contrast, the women's squad, formed in 2020 and achieving ProTeam status this year, has been invited to every Tour de France Femmes since its inception, proving its competitive stature. The club's press release emphasizes the need for transformation: “The successes of yesterday are no longer possible with today's conditions.” This decision not only marks the end of an era for the men's team but also signals a strategic pivot towards the future of women's cycling, an area ripe with potential and opportunity.