Not just Seixas and Gall - Decathlon has a 'secret' weapon, and he will make his pro debut this week
CyclingWednesday, 12 August 2026 at 09:00
Decathlon CMA CGM Team have signed pro Biathlete Émilien Jacquelin into 2026. The French multi-time Olympic and World Champion has expressed his interest into trying out in professional cycling, carrying the genetic talent to perform in endurance sports. He officially makes his debut this week in France.
Émilien Jacquelin makes his pro debut
Jacquelin's signing into this season was highly advertised by the French team, bringing in one of France's most highly regarded athletes from a different sport. The 31-year old signed with the team's development program, but is currently also a trainee for the elite team, meaning he can race the world's top events at the time being.
His debut was initially programmed to take place earlier in the year, but in May a training crash saw him suffer a fractured collarbone. This week in France however, Jacquelin will take to the start of La Polynormande, where he will make his debut as a professional cyclist.
"After months of preparation through the Decathlon New Gen program, including an altitude training camp at the Arc 1950 resort in July, Émilien Jacquelin is ready to take the next step in his development," the team announced on social media.
"He will make his professional debut in our colours at two demanding races on the French calendar: La Polynormande (August 16), followed by the Tour du Limousin (August 18-21). The objective will be to continue his development at the highest level while contributing to the team's collective ambitions".
Decathlon CMA CGM Team will see Émilien Jacquelin's debut this week
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Decathlon carries massive potential to evolve
Jacquelin's presence in the team comes with potential. In recent years, the very fast and sharp development of Florian Lipowitz showcased just how much potential can come with the transition of a professional biathlete to cycling. The German went from joining the World Tour into the Tour de France podium in a matter of two and a half years, a major discovery by Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe.
In Biathlon, the ability to ski at a high-speed is comparable to the aerobic and anaerobic efforts required in pro cycling. With the support of a top World Tour team, it is an attempt to bring out another top performer into the top of the sport.
But the French team might be on the verge of a massive step in the world of cycling. A big budget boost into the 2026 season has allowed it to sign several big names, including Olav Kooij and Tiesj Benoot who thrived at the recent Tour de France; but also Tobias Lund Andresen and several leadout men for both sprinters.
The rise of Paul Seixas has boosted the team into the top of the sport in terms of exposure whilst results-wise, the 19-year old has also delivered quite successfully over the past 12 months. With two French brands now as title sponsors for the team, the project might be fully backed by a 'famous' Tour de France brand that could see its budget rise even further.
The team not only has Seixas and its new sprinter group to chase results, but performance wise, several riders that were with the team previously as well have seen a performance boost this year. Felix Gall was second at the Giro d'Italia and has recently also won the Vuelta a Burgos ahead of a Vuelta a España where he might be Tadej Pogacar's biggest rival.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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Davide12-08-2026 - i'd like to see her get out of UAE, not sure about Movistar as they have Reusser ...Davide12-08-2026
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