French nationwide highway champion Paul Lapeira has prolonged his contract with Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, signing a deal to remain on the French staff till the tip of 2027.
The 24-year-old, who hails from Fougères in Brittany, turned professional with the WorldTour squad in 2022 after rising by way of the ranks on the AG2R junior and under-23 improvement groups.
A winner of Il Piccolo Lombardia in 2021, Lapeira progressed throughout his first two years as an expert earlier than having fun with his greatest season in 2024.
Last 12 months, he took his first professional win at March’s Classic Loire Atlantique with a 20km solo experience earlier than happening to win once more with a late assault on the Cholet Agglo Tour the subsequent day.
In April, he scored his first profession WorldTour victory on stage 2 of Itzulia Basque Country in Kanbo earlier than racing to the French nationwide title in June. His fifth and most up-to-date win got here at La Polynormande in August.
The season additionally noticed him tackle the Tour de France for the primary time, whereas he completed within the high 5 at Amstel Gold Race within the spring, additional underlining his one-day race potential.
“This is a renewal that occurred naturally, with out leaving any room for doubt. I accomplished all my coaching throughout the staff’s program, and with nice progress to my identify, it inspired me to proceed on this path,” Lapeira mentioned.
“I’m joyful to increase for 2 extra years, till 2027, which can carry my whole years with the staff to 6 on the finish of the contract. It’s beginning to make an important story. I feel I’m in the best place to proceed to progress over the subsequent three years and produce the staff the very best outcomes.
“I’m assured in the way forward for the coaching, and the imaginative and prescient of the undertaking for 2028 brings serenity. I wish to thank our companions, AG2R La Mondiale, who’ve supported us for a few years, in addition to Decathlon extra not too long ago, and Van Rysel, who present us with cutting-edge tools.”
Lapeira is about to make his 2025 season debut on the upcoming Tour Down Under (January 21-26). He’s joined on the Decathlon AG2R provisional startlist by Andrea Vendrame, Dorion Godon, Geoffrey Bouchard, and Bastien Tronchon, plus neo-pros Noa Isidore and Jordan Labrosse.
