NewGen of Decathlon AG2R enters with a bang: "They told me: Oli, don’t worry about him"

The road cycling season is just around the corner, which means we’ll be introduced to a host of new names. This includes Decathlon AG2R, where new sponsor Decathlon is already reaping the rewards of the NewGen program it launched just a year ago. The French team has promoted five major talents to their WorldTour lineup, presenting them to stakeholders at the team launch. IDLProCycling.com was there to cover it.

"The future as DNA," was the headline announcing Léo Bisiaux, Oscar Chamberlain, Noa Isidore, Rasmus Søjberg Pedersen, and Paul Seixas as the newest additions to the WorldTour squad. "In 2023, we wanted to fully integrate the training channel at the heart of the team by creating the NewGen. It has already enabled young riders riders to make their mark and join the elite of professional cycling," said manager Dominique Serieys, describing the NewGen program as "one of the pillars of our strategic vision."

Experienced rider Oliver Naesen is eager to guide the young talents and acknowledges the transformation in the sport. "Training and coaching. They get so much more support. When I was their age, what we ate was ridiculous. So, so unhealthy! We tried our best, but we didn’t know better. Now everything is optimized, and they really know a lot. At the cellular level analysis, physiological training, altitude camps, energy systems, ... They know all those things, they’re practically biomedical experts. When it comes to those things, I can't teach them much. The average neo-pro today is incredibly knowledgeable."

Still, the Belgian warns against overconfidence. "What’s common among the younger generation is obsessing over wattage numbers and sharing stories about who pushed what numbers. But over time, you learn that monsters on the test bench aren’t always monsters in the race. Last year, we had a trainee who was dropped and said, ‘How can this be? I sustained these watts for these minutes!’ I didn’t even come close to those wattages, but I wasn’t dropped. Racing requires more than strength. You need to know when to push and when not to. I used to dismiss that as nonsense, but now I’ve learned how to race efficiently."

Naesen, a true AG2R veteran, fully supports his team’s approach. "Nowadays, you either need a superstar from a mega-team, which is likely out of our budget, or you invest in young riders, hoping one truly breaks through and remains loyal to the team. Looking at the young talent coming through now, they all seem like potential champions. I’m genuinely excited about it," said the Belgian, clearly enthusiastic. But who exactly are these riders everyone is so excited about?

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Léo Bisiaux (19 years old, France, contract through 2028)

Léo Bisiaux has been part of Decathlon AG2R’s development program since 2022, back when it was still AG2R Citroën. Cyclo-cross fans might recognize his name — the Frenchman became junior world champion in the discipline in early 2023 in Hoogerheide, the Netherlands. This winter, he continues to compete in cyclo-cross, more specifically in the U23 World Cups, where he consistently finishes in the top ten.

Weighing just 52 kilograms, the rider from Fontainebleau is a true climber and brings an impressive resume to the pro ranks. Last season, he placed third in the Peace Race, followed by a commendable sixth in the Giro d’Italia Next Gen. He confirmed his abilities in the Tour de l’Avenir, climbing with the best to finish fourth behind Joe Blackmore, Pablo Torres, and Tijmen Graat.

"I'm delighted to be joining the WorldTour team," Bisiaux said of the move. "It's a new step and I'm delighted to be continuing with Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale. I've progressed through all the levels of the team, which has trusted me from the start, and I've climbed the ranks one by one. Since I've been in the junior category, I've got to know the staff and everyone on the team, and things are going really well. So it's nice and I can't wait to start my first WorldTour season."

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Oscar Chamberlain (19 years old, Australia, contract through 2027)

Oscar Chamberlain has also risen through the ranks at Decathlon AG2R. The 19-year-old Australian joined the junior team in 2023 and moved to the U23 level after just one season. Standing at 1.94 meters, the rider from Canberra has the build to shine in the Flemish classics and is also a strong time trialist. In 2023, he became junior world time trial champion and won the Watersley Junior Challenge thanks to a solid performance in the chrono.

English-speaking team leader Luke Rowe will guide the Aussie during the spring. "Oscar might get a few opportunities here and there, but we first need to look at the level they are at right now. He was second in the junior edition of Paris-Roubaix, but that’s a different ballgame compared to the elite race. Maybe he can make the step in 2026," the Welshman told us, tempering expectations a little.

"Climbing to the WorldTour level has been one of my goals since I started cycling," said Chamberlain. "So this is a very special moment for me, rewarding all the hard work I've put in, and the people around me, to make this dream a reality. I'm very excited about the future. I think the team will allow me to develop my skills on and off the bike."

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Noa Isidore (20 years old, France, contract through 2026)

Noa Isidore might be the most well-known of the five on paper, but don’t be mistaken — he’s still a rising talent. The Frenchman joined AG2R’s junior team in 2021 but spent 2023 with CIC U Nantes Atlantique before returning to the WorldTour development squad the next season in order to pave his way to the pros.

Isidore started 2024 strongly with a victory in Croatia, ahead of Darren van Bekkum and Tomos Pattinson. In May, he became the French U23 champion, and in the fall, he impressed with a ninth-place finish among WorldTour professionals at the Tour of Britain.

"This has been a dream of mine for years," said Isidore about his transfer. "The level will only get higher, and I have to keep progressing, but I know the team will support me. This kind of trust is crucial to me because it ensures I can perform at the highest level. As a rider and as a person, I’ve grown with this team, so staying here was important to me."

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Rasmus Sojberg Pedersen (22 years old, Denmark, contract through 2027)

Look at that, a Pedersen from Denmark! And it's not Mads, but Rasmus. This 21-year-old made waves in June by winning the Danish national championship among elite riders. He beat top-notch guys like Kasper Asgreen (Soudal Quick-Step), Frederik Wandahl (BORA-hansgrohe), Michael Valgren (EF Education-EasyPost), Magnus Cort (Uno-X), Tobias Lund Andresen (dsm-firmenich PostNL) and namesake Mads from Lidl-Trek.

His win wasn’t a fluke. In March, he won two stages of the Olympia’s Tour, where he finished second overall. He also placed second in Gent-Wevelgem/Kattekoers and won the Danish cobbled classic GP Herning. In the fall, he secured a sixth-place finish at the U23 European Championships and two top-five stage finishes in the Tour of Britain.

"I started cycling with the dream of becoming a professional," said Pedersen, who spent just one year with the U23 team. "I've been given the environment and the tools to make that dream come true. Next year will be all about gaining experience. I've still got a lot to learn, but there are many experienced riders members of the team on whom I'll be able to rely. The training is in full development, the equipment is high-performance and the approach is professional, all of which bodes well for the future."

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Paul Seixas (18 years old, France, contract through 2027)

Arguably the biggest talent of the five, Seixas is the current French junior cyclo-cross champion. At just 17 years old (!), he already knew he was turning pro. He will be the youngest rider in the WorldTour next year. Last season, he dominated junior races, winning Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the Tour du Pays de Vaud, the Giro della Lunigiana, and the time trial world championship in Zurich.

Skipping the U23 team entirely, Seixas is heading straight to the WorldTour. "I wanted to continue the experience with the team at WorldTour level this time. It's important for me to remain loyal to the team that trained me. The team is offering me an incredible project. It's a special feeling to enter the WorldTour, especially at the age of 18. It's a vote of confidence, and I'm very happy about it." Earlier this year on the Coll de Rates he tried to approach Tadej Pogacar's record time with the help of some cycling friends, ultimately falling forty seconds short.

Naesen shared an anecdote about Seixas that also shows we are dealing with a true top talent: "When I heard that Paul Seixas signed at 18, I told my trainer, ‘Wow, 18 years old.’ But my trainer assured me, ‘Oli, don’t worry about him. He’s so incredibly strong that he’ll handle the transition just fine.’

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