Decathlon CMA CGM give 'Project Seixas' a major boost by signing Romain Bardet in a new role

Romain Bardet is coming home. The former French rider, still active on the gravel circuit, is returning to the team that developed him and where he rode between 2013 and 2021: Decathlon CMA CGM. Bardet will take on the role of Sports Manager from 1 January 2027, the team has confirmed.

In this role, he will support the overall management in leading the team's entire sporting project, from the WorldTour squad all the way down to the NewGen rider development programme. With that project, the French outfit aims to develop the best riders of the future, with the likes of Seixas, Léo Bisiaux and Aubin Sparfel already the first examples of that approach.

In this way, he will help to improve sporting performance, the guidance of riders, and the team's ambition of establishing itself as one of the best teams in the peloton on a long-term basis.

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Dominique Serieys, CEO at Decathlon CMA CGM, is delighted with his latest recruit. "His experience and knowledge of the organisation will be invaluable in supporting the development of our project and continuing our ambition to perform at the highest international level."

"His role fits seamlessly into the structuring work that has been initiated over recent years, with the aim of further raising the collective performance level and durably establishing the team as one of the leading teams in international cycling," the Frenchman said.

Bardet, who was being tipped for roughly the same kind of future about fifteen years ago as Seixas is now, also had his say. "I'm very happy to be back with the team. It's always been my ambition to move into management roles, so that I can play a role focused on performance, rider development, and running an organisation," he said.

"I have a lot of people to thank for placing this trust in me to guide our riders and put in place the best possible projects, both for them and for the team," he added. Bardet left the structure in 2021 and spent the final years of his career at DSM and subsequently Picnic-PostNL. "Since I left, the team has gone through an impressive period of development."

"Together with strong partners, the team has been able to build on a rich tradition to embark on a path of modernisation, attract the best riders, and pursue victory in the biggest races," he said. "All the conditions are in place within the team to become a leading outfit and secure its future by developing the best international riders."