"The vanishing act of amateur sports squads sparks concerns among a lost generation"

In a shakeup for the amateur cycling world, the historic section of the CC Étupes, a National 1 (N1) team, has announced its interruption for this fall. This decision comes amidst a financial crisis that has been plaguing N1 teams, the pinnacle of amateur cycling and a stepping stone for most professional riders.

The crisis has been further exacerbated by the introduction of the Federal Continental status this season. Under the presidency of Michel Callot, the French Cycling Federation (FFC) created this status as an intermediate level between professionals and amateurs. Five N1 teams, including Villefranche-Beaujolais, have obtained this label for two years. However, the Council of State, seized by the National Cycling League, has ruled the creation of these sections as illegal.

Anthony Barle, general manager of VC Villefranche Beaujolais, is one of the critics of these Federal Continental teams. He accuses them of using anti-competitive means, such as large budgets, salaried riders, and attractive calendars, to "kill" N1 teams. Contis teams, he argues, scout talents directly from the Junior (U19) ranks, causing N1 clubs to focus on their U19s to meet the demands of the elite and offer teenagers a top-notch experience.

Despite the legal issues, Barle remains an "eternal optimist" and is not worried about the future. He believes that N1 teams play a crucial role in preparing riders for the professional sphere, allowing them to become more seasoned and learn how to race and live in a group, reducing the gap between Juniors and pros.

Meanwhile, young prodigies like Paul Seixas, Lenny Martinez, Romain Grégoire, Brieuc Rolland, and Paul Magnier are making waves in French cycling. Seixas, a young Lyon native, bucked the trend by going straight from juniors to the pros without burning out or missing.

Training subsidies have existed since 2024, with a club receiving 1,000 euros per year of training from the age of 15 of a runner until their transition to a Continental team, and 2,000 euros in a World Tour team. However, Barle criticizes these subsidies as derisory, stating that the professional sphere lacks gratitude.

The controversy has also led to competition issues for N1 teams. Groupama-FDJ, Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, and Arkéa B & B Hotels have created continental development teams, blurring the boundary between amateur and professional cycling. Maxime Bouet, sports director of Arkéa-B & B Hotels Continental team, states that riders who join their team learn the codes of the big leagues faster due to racing with professionals and getting accustomed to the logistics and organizational needs of a WorldTour team.

However, Paul Herman, director of SCO Dijon (N1), opposes this approach. He argues that it encourages Contis to lock up the gems earlier and leaves waste behind for those who don't go pro immediately. Sylvain Chalot, president of the CC Étupes, predicts that the financial heterogeneity among teams, visible in the WorldTour, is spreading to all levels of cycling, potentially leading to a "war on the budget."

Despite the challenges, Barle remains optimistic. He believes that if the situation improves in France, the Federal Continental status will attract young people and places will be scarce. He also notes that the Federal Continental status allowed them to organize beautiful races abroad, which could be a positive aspect for the future of amateur cycling.

"The vanishing act of amateur sports squads sparks concerns among a lost generation"