Arkéa-Samsic will turn into Arkéa-B&B Accommodations in 2024 and the French crew have unveiled a brand new Excalibur-themed equipment set to be donned by dash star Arnaud Démare and younger expertise Kévin Vauquelin.
The Breton crew have stayed with purple as the principle color on an asymmetrical design, however with their new title sponsor B&B Accommodations additionally outstanding on the entrance of the equipment. B&B Accommodations will return to the professional peloton after a 12 months out following their crew’s collapse on the finish of 2022.
Démare was closely featured within the crew’s social media revelation of their new jersey, eradicating the equipment from a field as if it have 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 crew 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 crew mentioned they have been trying to “proceed to write down the legend of the ARKEA–B&B Accommodations crew” 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 id[…]reinforces, actually, the sensation for all of the riders of belonging to the identical household,” mentioned Basic Supervisor Emmanuel Hubert.
“Our colors stay purple and black. These have turn into an actual landmark, a reference over time inside 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 acquired to experience out with the professionals earlier than a motorcycle present and different festivities.
The lads’s crew signed Démare mid-season in 2023 after he fell out of favour with Groupama-FDJ. They may 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 crew’s ten wins in 2023 after becoming a member of in August on the Tour de Vendée and Paris-Bourges, with Vauquelin essentially 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.
In addition they misplaced considered one of their prime 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 an even bigger price range for the French crew, 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 at this time additional solidifies our funding on this thrilling challenge,” Vincent Quandalle, Basic 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 dangerous as there are 18 WorldTour squads. Nonetheless, going into 2024, the French crew have been practically 2000 factors adrift of the 18th spot, and subsequent season in the event that they intention to maneuver up the rating, subsequently, there may be appreciable floor to cowl.
