Cyclingflash
The start of a super team? 'Collaboration between Red Bull and FDJ-SUEZ appears imminent'

The start of a super team? 'Collaboration between Red Bull and FDJ-SUEZ appears imminent'

FDJ United-SUEZ has been making significant progress in recent years. The French team now boasts the ideal leader in Demi Vollering, but they want more and are reportedly working behind the scenes to secure a very financially powerful sponsor.

According to cycling journalist Daniel Benson, the sponsor in question is Red Bull. "Sources indicate that the company is on the verge of signing a major sponsorship deal in women's cycling, and that a partnership with FDJ United-SUEZ is expected in time for this year's Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift," we read on his website.

Red Bull has been active in cycling for many years, across various disciplines. The company sponsors individual riders such as Wout van Aert and Tom Pidcock, and of course is also the title sponsor of the German WorldTour team led by Ralph Denk and star rider Remco Evenepoel.

Now the Austrian energy drink producer is reportedly interested in the ambitious French women's team FDJ-SUEZ. Stephen Delcourt is the team manager steering this squad and recently spoke about the future of his team in an interview with Benson.

Crucial point
"After twenty years, we have reached a crucial point. We employ around fifty people, including the riders, and we want to take the next step. Over the past five years, we’ve done everything to become one of the best teams, and last season we ended up at the top of the UCI rankings."

"I spent the entire winter with our sponsors discussing whether they want to continue after 2028. We have spent a lot of time together plotting the future. Renewing the riders’ contracts is part of this, as are the sponsors, but it’s also about how we can grow and transform women’s cycling—in terms of performance and marketing."

Not as title sponsor?
The current sponsors—FDJ, SUEZ, and bike supplier Specialized—are tied to the team until the end of 2028. "Everything indicates that a partnership with Red Bull will follow the example of Tudor, and not Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe. Red Bull will likely appear on the jersey and possibly the bike, but will not come in as a title sponsor," Benson writes.