"I hope the phone will ring": Podium-finisher from Namur still without a 2026 contract

Next to Italian Sara Casasola, Amandine Fouquenet is by far the best of the female non-Dutch cyclocrossers this winter. The Frenchwoman kicked off the season in Ruddervoorde and since then has not finished outside a top-10. But it's been her most recent results - two World Cup podiums in Flamanville and Namur - that truly put the 24-year-old cyclocrosser in the spotlight.

The Arkéa - B&B Hotels cyclocrosser took off quickly in Namur, leaving all her rivals far behind on the first steep climb to the citadelle. "I found myself a bit alone up there; I didn't think I'd started so fast," Fouquenet said about the sudden advantage she had gained.

While the surprised commentators were debating to figure out whether Fouquenet would eventually pay the price for her effort, rivals led by Lucinda Brand begun to crawl back onto Fouquenet's backwheel. 

"I think I needed to catch my breath a little," she admits. The 24-year-old indeed needed a moment to work herself back into the race after initial acceleration. Eventually, she would go on to finish on the podium. "I'm very happy with this third place. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I managed to create a gap on the penultimate lap."

After a World Cup career-high second place in Flamanville, the third place in Namur only confirms Fouquenet's status as one of the best ladies of this winter. "I'm happy with this part of the season so far," she nods.

The 2025/26 season is in any case a big step up. It's never easy to go from a top-10 contender to a podium finisher like Fouquenet has done this year. "It's my best season. I've been consistent, with podium finishes at the international level. I've never achieved that before."

But what is striking is that, despite her incredible performances, Fouquenet has yet to find a team that would support her from January 1 onwards. "Many people don't understand [why I haven't found a team yet], I hope the phone will ring, even though I've been saying that for a while. The results show that I'm still just as committed. If I don't give up, it shows that I have a certain motivation and that I'm capable of achieving results despite the difficulties."