Teamwork matters! How does the Decathlon Team Classification work?

Tour de Pologne, Poland’s biggest cycling race, has joined forces with Decathlon, a brand increasingly investing in the growth of this sport. Decathlon is the title sponsor of the rising powerhouse team, Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, and as part of their partnership with the Tour de Pologne, Decathlon is also sponsoring the team classification of the race.

Reliable partners with a mission to promote sport are the cornerstone of the Tour de Pologne. This is why the race has teamed up with Decathlon, a company long dedicated to promoting a healthy lifestyle and cycling. This year, Decathlon made a significant entry into top-level cycling by becoming the title sponsor of the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale team, currently ranked third in the Union Cycliste International standings. Decathlon is also the sponsor of the team classification for the 81st Tour de Pologne.

“Decathlon is a clear leader in Poland in terms of mobility, and bicycles have always played a crucial role in our evolution and development. Millions of children worldwide learned to ride their first bike with Decathlon, and millions of adults use our bikes daily. Partnering with the Tour de Pologne is another significant step for our brand. We aim to promote sport in our country, and cycling is one of the most popular and accessible physical activities. Collaborating with a partner like the Tour de Pologne is an opportunity for us to reach cycling fans across Poland,” said Nils Swolkien, Chief Executive Officer of Decathlon Poland.

“I am very pleased that we have partnered with such a well-known and beloved global brand as Decathlon. For years, we have been organizing the largest and most prestigious cycling race in Poland and Central Europe. This sport attracts entire families. As the Tour de Pologne, we strive to find new communication channels and reach out to cycling enthusiasts, and our joint efforts with Decathlon will undoubtedly further popularize cycling, both professional and amateur. Cycling is a sport made for active leisure. I thank Decathlon once again for deciding to partner with us and for our joint promotion of cycling in our country,” said Czesław Lang, General Director of the Tour de Pologne.

How does the team classification work?

In cycling races at various levels, including the World Tour, riders compete not only for the overall victory and the coveted yellow jersey but also for stage wins and other classifications. One of these in the 81st Tour de Pologne is the team classification, sponsored by Decathlon.

The final ranking highlights the teams that competed most collectively over the seven days of racing. The mechanism of the classification is simple: at each stage, the times of the three best riders from each team are summed up, which ultimately determines the best team of the entire race. Last year, the UAE Team Emirates earned this title, with three riders – Rafał Majka, Joao Almeida, and Brandon McNulty – finishing in the top 10.

This year, the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale team is particularly motivated to win the team classification, as they have reached an unprecedented level of performance this season.

Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale – a team knocking on the top tier’s door

The inclusion of Decathlon as a sponsor for AG2R La Mondiale may be a milestone in the history of the French team. Led by Vincent Lavenu, the team has been active – under various names – since 1992 and has been part of the World Tour for many years. Its riders, including Jean-Christophe Péraud and Romain Bardet, have previously stood on the podium in the general classification of the Tour de France, and the team’s jerseys have frequently appeared at the forefront in races, including the Tour de Pologne. In 2001, one of the stages was won by the sprinter of the French team, Jaan Kirsipuu.

However, this season is exceptional for the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale team. With the addition of the new sponsor, the team has acquired several valuable riders, including Sam Bennett, Victor Lafay, and Edvald Boasson Hagen, who has two stage victories in the Tour de Pologne to his name.

The refreshed team has performed brilliantly in recent months, racking up 26 professional victories! The Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale riders have triumphed not only in their homeland but also in prestigious races outside of it. In World Tour events, part of the “cycling Champions League,” riders in Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale jerseys have raised their hands in victory in stages of the UAE Tour, Itzulia Basque Country, Tour de Romandie, and the Giro d’Italia – one of the three Grand Tours – where Ben O’Connor also finished 4th in the general classification.

The Australian is one of the team’s main stars and excels in high mountains. In such terrain, the team can also rely on Felix Gall, who finished in the top 10 of last year’s Tour de France. The roster also includes the very fast sprinter Sam Bennett, many young talents, and riders specialized in hilly classic races.

Among them are Benoît Cosnefroy, Oliver Naesen, Dorian Godon, and the rising star Paul Lapeira. The young Frenchman recently became the national champion in the road race and will be competing in the tricolor jersey with the French flag for the next year. Who knows, maybe he will showcase it during the 81st Tour de Pologne?