Frenchman Jean-René Bernaudeau will also be 'simply' the team manager of TotalEnergies next year. The team announced this through an official press release. This contradicts earlier reports stating that Stéphane Heulot would succeed him next year.
Ouest-France reported earlier this week that Belgian Heulot would follow the 69-year-old Bernaudeau, who has been the team's manager for over thirty(!) years, as TotalEnergies’ manager. Heulot left his position as team manager at Lotto in September. This has now been disproven.
"In response to the information originally published by Ouest-France and circulated in the media, SA Vendée Cyclisme confirms that Jean-René Bernaudeau will lead the cycling team for the 27th consecutive year. To anticipate the major challenges Team TotalEnergies faces in the coming months, a thorough evaluation is currently underway to strengthen the staff. However, no decisions have been made yet," reads the press release.
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Bernaudeau achieved major successes, including with Pierre Rolland and Europcar - photo: Fotopersburo Cor Vos
In search of a new sponsor
The 'major challenges' likely refer to the hunt for a new title sponsor. TotalEnergies will stop after 2026. The French oil company has also been a co-sponsor of INEOS Grenadiers since this summer.
