Rising French cyclo-cross star Amandine Fouquenet will experience for Pauwels Sauzen-Altez Industriebouw in 2026 after a late battle for a contract, shifting to one of many sport’s high groups after a formidable season to this point.
Pauwels Sauzen-Altez Industriebouw workforce supervisor Jurgen Mettepenningen confirmed the information to Sporza over the weekend in Dendermonde, the place Fouquenet completed third.
Sufferer of the collapse of the Arkéa-B&B Inns workforce, Fouquenet was concurrently having a breakthrough season and preventing to discover a residence for 2026 over the festive interval of racing, after saying in October that she did not have a contract lined up.
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Following podiums within the first two rounds of the World Cup, she took the largest win of her profession on the Superprestige in Heusden-Zolder on December 23, backed up with second on the World Cup in Gavere on Boxing Day.
Even after Gavere, she stated in her post-race interview that she didn’t but have a contract, including “I definitely hope [recent results] strengthens the groups’ confidence in selecting me”.
Clearly her efforts and successes haven’t gone unnoticed, although, and after a prolonged wait, she has a house at Pauwels Sauzen in 2026. She’ll swap jerseys after the New 12 months – presumably debuting for the Belgian workforce on the GP Sven Nys on January 1 – and can experience alongside the likes of Michael Vanthourenout, Eli Iserbyt and Leonie Bentveld.
“We imagine in her,” Mettepenningen informed Sporza. “She’s motivated and even desires to maneuver to Flanders for six months a yr to race right here.
“She has loads of potential; we simply have to work on her approach. However I feel we will write a terrific story along with her.”
Although it took till the ultimate weekend of December for Fouquenet to signal a contract, it wasn’t for lack of curiosity, Mettepenningen stated, together with his workforce profitable a battle to safe her signature.
“Many groups had their eyes on her,” he stated. “However we completely wanted somebody to compete alongside Leonie Bentveld week after week on the high of girls’s cyclo-cross.”
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Bentveld, the workforce’s different high feminine cyclo-cross rider, rides on the highway with AG Insurance coverage-Soudal through the summer season, and Pauwels Sauzen stated they’re “wanting into whether or not that is additionally potential” for Fouquenet.
In addition to being excellent news for Fouquenet, the arrival of the French rider gives a giant enhance to the Belgian workforce, who’re presently with out their star rider Eli Iserbyt who’s coping with a long-term iliac artery drawback.
The 28-year-old, who used to battle with riders like Mathieu van der Poel and Tom Pidcock, is but to begin his 2025/26 marketing campaign, and it is unlikely he’ll race in any respect this winter, with no return and even enchancment in sight.
Mettepingen stated “there’s little change in Eli’s state of affairs”, and lots of have speculated that early retirement may even be on the playing cards.
“Let’s hope Eli finds the braveness to make the miracle occur and that every part works out. However it is going to be a tough story.”
