Arkéa-B & B Hotels, an equally threatened women's team

The announcement of the withdrawal of the two titles sponsors at the end of the year did not shook that the male team, since it concerns the entire structure which employs nearly 150 employees.

On the roads of the Tour de France women, the subject is pushed back in the background. The concern linked to the possible disappearance of the Arkéa-B & B Hotels team is obvious. The seven runners of the Breton training engaged in the race are concerned, but the team's staff tries to ensure that nothing comes to parasitize the pleasure of participating in this race that some discover, like the French Titia Ryo, Latimin's Clémence and Maurène Tregouët, all aged 21 or less.

“As a sportswoman, you have to try to focus on deadlines. I focused on the internship at altitude. I now focus on the tour. I trust those who take care of these questions”evacuated Clémence Latimier the day before the Grand Départ, in Vannes. The Frenchwoman, who signed a professional contract, highlighted her red and black tunic when leaving Brittany on Monday, July 28, taking the escape of the day that almost went to the end. The only rejoicing of this start of the round for Arkéa-B & B Hotels, the best classified of which is the Belgian Lotte Claes (24th to 58 “), and while the leader Valentina Cavallar is already set up in the general classification (87th to 16'09 from the yellow jersey).

Can a good tour of France women save the team? Emmanuel Hubert, the boss of the team, describes a situation always “Anxiety” Despite the brilliant 7th place of Kévin Vauquelin on the large male loop. “Today, there is not so much more (news)”he said In The telegramMonday, saying that he was ready to give up the Breton identity of the team to save it with a foreign investor. “If tomorrow morning, a guy tells me that he wants to put 40 million but that I get out, there is no problem. I do not work for myself, I work for my friends, my employees”promises Hubert, general manager of the structure since 2014.

If no buyer is found before September 15, a deadline to register the team with the UCI next season, it will be finished from this training present in the male professional peloton since 2005. This would mean the end of the men's team, the women's team and the continental. In The telegramEmmanuel Hubert claims to have appointments during the Tour de France women, like so many hopes of recovery.