Why Clément Venturini initially declined Unibet Rose Rockets
Clément Venturini is the most recent addition to Unibet Rose Rockets. The Frenchman raced until this year for Arkéa-B&B Hotels, which ceased to exist at the end of the season. Initially, however, Venturini was unsure about making the move to the French team with Dutch roots, he said in an interview with Cyclism'Actu.
Venturini indicated that 2025 was a mentally challenging year for him. "It was quite an unusual winter. It’s true that I went through a tough time, with significant highs and lows." The 32-year-old rider saw his team, which he had ridden for since 2024, disappear. "I still saw myself as a rider and I really hoped Arkéa would survive so I could finish my career with them. That’s more or less what I told Manu (Emmanuel Hubert, ed.). We all know how it ended, the ending nobody wanted."
Unibet Rose Rockets showed immediate interest in Venturini. However, he initially declined the team's offer due to his mental struggles. "Unibet was one of the first teams to offer me a meeting, a video chat and a contract offer for 2026. At first, I wasn’t ready. There were things bothering me. I was focusing more on the negative than on the positive. Months passed with many conversations and self-reflection. In the end, I signed with them and I absolutely have no regrets about my decision after spending a week with the team."
International environment
The seven-time French cyclo-cross champion, who has spent his whole career with French teams, looks forward to the new stimuli that an international environment brings. "I almost feel like it gives me a boost, it also takes me out of my comfort zone. I’ve never spoken English within a team before, so I have to adapt. Although it’s a French team, we all know very well that it’s more of an international team. I don’t mind at all. In fact, I’m happy to step off the beaten path," Venturini said.
Still, Venturini will be able to speak his native language regularly at his new team, where he will meet five fellow countrymen. "We have all seen each other. All thirty riders are here. However, I don’t share a room with a Frenchman. It’s actually good to mix things up. I share a room with a Belgian who speaks all the languages, which is very nice. I feel very welcome. Like I said: I absolutely do not regret my choice, on the contrary. It’s a great experience for me, a chance to discover new things and a different way of working that suits me very well."
