Decatlhon AG2R La Mondiale made it's moves in the transfer market but saved them all for the right timing. After announcing it's new title sponsor and colours during this morning's team presentation, many signings were presented and amongst them is
Victor Lafay.
A two-year contract for the Frenchman, who was reported over the past few months to have signed a millionaire contract. Lafay comes from
Cofidis where he had a breakthrough season this year, taking a few wins but among them one at the Tour de France. The Frenchman won stage 2 of the race and wore the green jersey for a few days, after on the opening day having been the only rider to keep up with Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard on the Côte de Pike.
These performances were enough, the hype of the Grand Depart and the exciting first two stages put everyone who performed in the headlines, and those happened to be the two stages where Lafay showed his best level. The potential of the 27-year old was clear and many teams immediately gotten into contact with his agent - including INEOS Grenadiers. However it was the French team that won the battle for his contract.
Lafay enters AG2R hence as a new leader, another rider who will be expected to race for victories in the hilly races, including the Ardennes classics but as we've been able to see, stage hunt in the Grand Tours. Alongside Sam Bennett, Bruno Armirail and Dries de Bondt, a strong set of riders join the French team into the coming season.