Decathlon AG2R picked apart by Groupama-FDJ: After climber, promising puncheur also makes the move

Berthet started out as a mountain biker, making a name for himself in the junior and U23 categories with multiple top-10 finishes in the World Cup. In late 2020, he decided to switch to road racing, despite having no prior experience on the tarmac. ProTeam DELKO took the gamble after seeing his remarkable power numbers, and in 2021 he immediately showed what he was capable of.

That year he finished 13th in both the Mont Ventoux Dénivelé Challenge and the Route d'Occitanie, an incredible feat for someone who had never ridden a proper road race before. AG2R Citroën Team spotted his potential and signed him from August 1. His debut for the team was also his WorldTour debut at the Tour of Poland, where he finished 14th as his team’s best rider. A year later, he raced his first Monument, taking 14th in Il Lombardia.

Berthet has ridden the Tour de France twice, with his best result being fifth in the stage to Puy de Dôme in 2023. His standout performances have mostly come in smaller races, this year he finished second overall at the Vuelta a Andalucia and also took runner-up in the Tour du Jura. But a true breakthrough as a top-tier climber has yet to materialize. At Decathlon AG2R, the roster has become increasingly international, and the fight for climbing spots more intense.

With a new sponsor and a significant budget boost, the French team is aiming to push into the sport’s elite. Reports link them to signings such as Olav Kooij, while homegrown super talents Paul Seixas and Léo Bisiaux are set to provide even more competition in the future. Perhaps that’s why Berthet opted for a fresh start at Groupama-FDJ, where he’ll join the likes of David Gaudu, Guillaume Martin, and Romain Grégoire.

After signing Berthet, Groupama-FDJ has snatched another rider from Decathlon AG2R's rivals: Bastien Tronchon will also be making the switch. Like his compatriot and teammate, the 23-year-old Frenchman has signed a three-year contract. Tronchon is known as a strong all-rounder who particularly excels in the hills.

He also has a strong sprint. He sprinted to a top 3 finish in the Tour of the Basque Country. He also finished fifth in the Tour Down Under in the spring and won the Tro-Bro Léon in May. As a 20-year-old trainee, he caused a stir in 2022 by beating Pavel Sivakov in the third stage of the Tour of Burgos.