“We’ve definitely partied — beer and shots”: New signing lifts the lid on Decathlon’s alcohol-fuelled end-of-season training camp
Cycling
One of Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team’s newest recruit, Tobias Lund Andresen, has revealed that his first pre-season camp with the French squad was anything but a quiet affair — admitting the team’s bonding sessions involved “beer, shots and plenty of laughs” as the group got to know each other ahead of 2026.
The 23-year-old Dane, who joins from Team Picnic PostNL, said the camp struck a balance between serious work and light-hearted teambuilding, with new and existing riders quickly finding common ground.
“We’ve definitely partied — there were icebreakers in the form of beer and shots, and we did some bonding. It seems like a really good atmosphere,” the sprinter told Feltet.dk. “It’s the best way to build team spirit and get to know each other. You lose your inhibitions a bit once you’ve had a drink.”
A lighter start before the hard work begins
While the image of cyclists drinking might surprise fans more used to pasta and protein shakes, Lund Andresen insists the camp wasn’t all about celebrations. “We also had a lot of meetings, tried on new kit and did bike-fits. It was a good mix between relevant work and teambuilding,” he explained.
The Danish sprinter joins a revitalised Decathlon CMA (their new team name from 2026) roster that has undergone a major recruitment drive for 2026, adding heavyweights such as Tiesj Benoot and Olav Kooij from Team Visma | Lease a Bike, Cees Bol from the XDS Astana Team, Gregor Muhlberger from Movistar Team, Matthew Riccitello from Israel – Premier Tech, Daan Hoole from Lidl-Trek and Robbe Ghys from Alpecin-Deceuninck.
With seven career victories already — including this year’s Surf Coast Classic in Australia — Lund is expected to bolster Decathlon’s sprint options as the team aims to build on its resurgence under its new CMA identity.
For now, though, he’s enjoying a rare off-season breather. “I’m still in my off-season and haven’t properly started training yet,” he said. “It was a great team camp, and I’m really looking forward to next year.”
After a lively introduction to his new teammates, it’s fair to say the Danish sprinter has already found his rhythm — both on and off the bike.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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