"Beginning of something else or the end of everything" - B&B Hotels-KTM manager admits risk of collapse

Stakes are very high currently at the B&B Hotels-KTM camp. The confirmation of signings such as Mark Cavendish and Cees Bol are set, but the team has suffered unexpected financial issues late in the negotiations, which have thrown them into as far as possible end of the team.

“We are still working on finalizing our project, a very high-level men’s team, a women’s team, and an academy but we still need time," team manager Jerôme Pineau told Le Télégramme. "We have informed the authorities of our need to still have the next two weeks to obtain answers and present a solid file after the UCI and the DNCG (the National Directorate of Control and Professional Management)."

Every day the French manager is looking to add the final sum of money to keep the project in the form it's intended. It's reported that the team had secured sponsors that would have it with a €15 million in 2023, including a women's and development team aswell. However, the planned presentation on the 26th of October was postponed almost last-minute, and ever since the tension has been piling up further.

“I am waiting for answers, I have five very serious leads, I am waiting for definitive answers on November 21, 28, and 29," Pineau revealed. "We are ready to fire. I do not control the time, nor the amounts. I hope they are positive on the overall project, but I do not exclude that it will be revised downwards. Perhaps by asking my athletes to be more reasonable in 2023 before thinking bigger.”

“There were setbacks," he admits. "I met Didier Quillot (former director of the Professional Football League) in January, the city of Paris in May, we had made a lot of progress with a certain number of companies in August. And then, economic and social instability prompted some to backtrack."

“The current budget is not sufficient to hope to evolve at the level where we hope. If necessary, we will have to make decisions. I remain optimistic but the future of the team is threatened,” he continued. The team could stay upright at ProTeam level, but currently there are more questions than answers. “I will believe it until the last minute of the last day. I said, I’m waiting for answers. And if a business leader wants to come with us, we won’t slam the door. It will be the beginning of something else or the end of everything. But I rule out pulling the curtain.”

Most recently, the team has been said to have told the riders signed for it's women's squad that they could look for other teams.

“As far as I know, she has not signed elsewhere even if some would like it," Pineau said of Audrey Cordon-Ragot who is said to be leading the team next year. However, he denies the rumours: "We always really want to work with her. Contrary to what is said, I never released the girls, I did not ask them to look for another team."