Arkéa-Samsic will change into Arkéa-B&B Accommodations in 2024 and the French staff have unveiled a brand new Excalibur-themed equipment set to be donned by dash star Arnaud Démare and younger expertise Kévin Vauquelin.
The Breton staff have stayed with crimson as the principle color on an asymmetrical design, however with their new title sponsor B&B Accommodations additionally distinguished on the entrance of the equipment. B&B Accommodations will return to the professional peloton after a 12 months out following their staff’s collapse on the finish of 2022.
Démare was closely featured within the staff’s social media revelation of their new jersey, eradicating the equipment from a field as if it had been the sword within the stone within the Arthurian legend. The shoot was filmed in Brittany on the myth-enshrouded Brocéliande forest.
He was alongside ladies’s staff rider Marie-Morgane le Deunff and Pierre Thierry from the event squad, with all three groups set to experience below the Arkéa-B&B Accommodations deal with in 2024.
C’est l’histoire de notre armure sacrée. ⚔”𝑬𝒙𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒃𝒖𝒓”, notre maillot 2024.📽 Lucas Pavy Manufacturing pic.twitter.com/rGY3Q38qW8December 3, 2023
The Arthurian legends, particularly the wizard Merlin, are closely linked to Brittany and motifs of the legendary sword seem throughout the equipment. The staff mentioned they had been seeking to “proceed to put in writing the legend of the ARKEA–B&B Accommodations staff” as they head into their twentieth season within the males’s professional peloton.
“As of January 1, 2024, our three groups could have the identical title companions: ARKEA and B&B Accommodations. This collective identification[…]reinforces, the truth is, the sensation for all of the riders of belonging to the identical household,” mentioned Normal Supervisor Emmanuel Hubert.
“Our colors stay crimson and black. These have change into an actual landmark, a reference through the years throughout the skilled peloton, in addition to an identification mannequin for our supporters.
“You all know our historical past, linked to the Breton territory. Because of this our 2024 jersey was designed across the theme “EXCALIBUR”, a legendary Breton sword. This 2024 classic ‘breathes’ our origins, our land.”
Arkéa unveiled their new equipment after additionally internet hosting their conventional supporters’ day on the Glaz Enviornment in Cesson-Sévigné the place followers obtained to experience out with the professionals earlier than a motorbike present and different festivities.
The boys’s staff signed Démare mid-season in 2023 after he fell out of favour with Groupama-FDJ. They’ll want him massively as they go additional into the following UCI WorldTour relegation cycle after being promoted final 12 months.
Démare took two of the staff’s ten wins in 2023 after becoming a member of in August on the Tour de Vendée and Paris-Bourges, with Vauquelin probably the most prolifically profitable rider with three victories. Nonetheless, they didn’t take a WorldTour win after stepping as much as the highest division and barely featured within the largest races.
Additionally they misplaced certainly one of their high riders to retirement in Nacer Bouhanni after the French sprinter went winless in 2023 and struggled to return to kind from a nightmare crash within the spring of 2022.
The addition of native Breton firm B&B Accommodations ought to safe a much bigger funds for the French staff, with new signings of Florian Sénéchal, Clément Venturini, Laurens Huys, Vincenzo Albanese, Miles Scotson and Raúl García Pierna all introduced in to try to flip issues round.
“Right here we lastly are!” Revealing the 2024 jersey as we speak additional solidifies our funding on this thrilling undertaking,” Vincent Quandalle, Normal Supervisor of Western Europe B&B Accommodations.
Of the highest 22 groups within the males’s skilled ranks, Arkéa sat in nineteenth after 2023, which doesn’t sound too unhealthy as there are 18 WorldTour squads. Nonetheless, going into 2024, the French staff had been practically 2000 factors adrift of the 18th spot, and subsequent season in the event that they purpose to maneuver up the rating, subsequently, there’s appreciable floor to cowl.