Arnaud Démare signs with Arkéa Samsic with immediate effect in three-year deal - "This is the best that could have happened to me in order to quickly turn the page"

The news had broken out yesterday and have now been confirmed. Arnaud Démare is now officially a rider of Team Arkéa Samsic in what is perhaps the least surprising mid-season transfers. The Frenchman leaves Groupama - FDJ on bad terms after 12 years in the team.

Démare has been one of the most successful sprinters of the past decade, turning pro in 2012 with Groupama and sticking with the French team throughout his whole career, where he won races like Milano-Sanremo and Paris-Tours, the maglia ciclamino twice at the Giro d'Italia as well as 8 stages, whilst also succeeding at the Tour de France in 2017 and 2018 - among almost a hundred professional wins.

He was a leader of Groupama but things derailed very quickly this spring as the team decided to leave him out of the Tour de France, much because of David Gaudu who had admitted he did not want the sprinter in the lineup, but rode to a ninth place in the overall classification. It was a shock to know of the changes for both fans and Démare himself, who has not raced since.

Rumours of his departure were quick to appear as it seemed clear he no longer had the intention to race with the team. Last afternoon local media pointed towards a mid-season transfer to Arkéa Samsic, and as the transfer market opens today, Démare joins the now-World Tour team with immediate effect and carries a contract until the end of 2025. He may play a crucial role for the team who seeks to remain in the World Tour, specially after the demise of it's former leader Nairo Quintana.

"I signed up for the 2024 and 2025 seasons with ARKEA-B&B HOTELS, but I had the possibility of terminating my contract by mutual agreement with Groupama and FDJ in order to join the Arkéa-Samsic team in order to be able to compete with this structure at the end of the 2023 season, from August 1st," the Frenchman said in a press release. "I would like to thank these two partners for releasing me from my last months of contract."

"This is the best that could have happened to me in order to quickly turn the page, and project myself into the future. I have a lot of desire with the Arkéa-Samsic team from this end of the season. I am opening a new chapter in my career, within a group that believes in me and motivates me. My will is enormous and increased tenfold in order to do well. Emmanuel Hubert's speech was exciting to me, motivating. I want to succeed in my entry as soon as possible under my new colors. I'm super motivated."

"Arnaud Démare will join us to compete at the end of the 2023 season under our colors, because he wanted to quickly give new impetus to his career," team manager Emanuel Hubert added. "He has signed up for the next two seasons with us, and the objective will be to allow him to continue to build on his record in the Arkéa-Samsic jersey, then ARKEA—B&B HOTELS both in one-day events and onstage races, and in particular the Tour de France."

"Arnaud is one of the best sprinters in the world, and has a strong track record, already 93 successes, he will bring his charisma, his aura to our workforce, and should very quickly affirm his desire to make our colors shine in the races he will play with us at the end of the season."