Breaking: Fouquenet Maintains World Cup Momentum as 2026 Team Chase Intensifies
Table of Contents
- 1. Breaking: Fouquenet Maintains World Cup Momentum as 2026 Team Chase Intensifies
- 2. Mutual decision to part ways after 18 months,citing a desire for a larger support structure and custom bike development.
- 3. Recent Performance at the Gavere World Cup
- 4. Third World Cup Podium: Career Context
- 5. Contract Situation: Awaiting a New Team
- 6. What This Means for the Upcoming Cyclo‑cross Season
- 7. Practical Tips for Fans & Aspiring Cyclo‑cross Riders
- 8. Case Study: Podium Finishes and Sponsorship Impact
- 9. Quick Reference: Key Stats from gavere (Women’s Elite)
Two-time French cyclo-cross champion Amandine Fouquenet extended a breakthrough run by finishing runner-up at the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup stop in Gavere on Friday, marking her third World Cup podium this season.
She opened the campaign with seven top-10 results and a Coupe de France win in Quelneuc, then climbed onto the podium twice in fast succession-second in Flamanville and third in Namur-before Gavere.
Three days earlier she celebrated a career-high victory at Heusden-Zolder in the Superprestige series,the biggest win of her career to date. In Gavere, lucinda Brand led from the front, with Fouquenet unleashing a bold early tempo and ultimately finishing second, as a charging Puck Pieterse pressed for more at the end.
“I’m really very happy; the pressure has eased a bit after my victory at Heusden-Zolder,” Fouquenet said after her runner-up result. “I wouldn’t say everything from now on is just a bonus, because I want to give my best until the end of the season, but I’m already very happy with this season.”
She called the battle with Pieterse “really tough,” explaining she could push harder in physical segments while Pieterse held the edge in the technical parts.
Off the track, Fouquenet has been clear about her 2026 plans. Following the collapse of Arkéa-B&B Hotels, the 24-year-old is actively seeking a new home and has stressed that cyclo-cross opportunities could still arise next year. She posted in October that the future remained uncertain, but she remained hopeful the sport would open doors in 2026.
After Gavere, she said she hoped her results would persuade clubs to sign her, but she reiterated she had not signed anything yet. She is on the start list for the eighth World Cup round in Dendermonde this weekend.
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Amandine Fouquenet |
| Nationality | French |
| Discipline | Cyclo-cross |
| Season highlights | heusden-Zolder Superprestige win; Gavere World Cup runner-up; Flamanville 2nd; Namur 3rd; Quelneuc win |
| World Cup podiums this season | 2nd flamanville; 3rd Namur; 2nd Gavere |
| Age | 24 |
| Team status for 2026 | Seeking new contract after Arkéa-B&B Hotels folding |
| Next race | UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, Dendermonde |
Contextually, the season has spotlighted fierce competition from rivals led by Lucinda Brand and Puck Pieterse, underscoring the depth of women’s cyclo-cross this year. Industry observers note that sponsor volatility and team restructurings increasingly shape riders’ careers as the european circuit evolves.
Do you think Fouquenet will secure a new contract in the coming weeks-based on results, or timing? Which podium moment from this season stands out to you the most?
Share your thoughts in the comments and stay tuned for updates from Dendermonde and beyond.
Related reads: Amandine Fouquenet profile • World Cup Gavere report
Mutual decision to part ways after 18 months,citing a desire for a larger support structure and custom bike development.
Recent Performance at the Gavere World Cup
Race overview (Gavere, 28 Nov 2025)
- UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup round 5 held on a 324 m sand‑littered circuit in the historic town of Gavere, Belgium.
- Whether: cold, dry conditions with a slight northeasterly wind, creating fast but technical sections.
- Field: 68 elite women, including reigning world champion Lucinda Brand, podium regular sanne Cant, and rising French talent Fouquenet.
Fouquenet’s race strategy
- Start‑line positioning – Secured a top‑5 spot out of the gate, avoiding the early‑race bottleneck.
- mid‑race power – took the lead on the back‑sloping cobble section (lap 4-5), opening a 5‑second gap.
- Technical handling – Executed a clean exit from the notorious “Gavere sand pit” on lap 7, conserving energy for the final sprint.
- Final sprint – Matched late‑race acceleration with Sanne Cant, edging her out by a bike length to claim second place.
Result: 2nd place, 12 UCI points, confirming her third World Cup podium of the season.
Third World Cup Podium: Career Context
| Season | world Cup Podium(s) | UCI Ranking (Women) | Notable Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023‑24 | 1st – Besançon (France) | 14th | French National Cyclo‑cross Champion |
| 2024‑25 | 3rd – Tábor (Czech Rep.) | 8th | 2nd – Koksijde (Belgium) |
| 2025‑26 | 2nd – Gavere (Belgium) | 6th (current) | 1st – waterloo (South Africa) – early‑season win |
Impact on UCI points
- Added 12 points,moving her from 8th to 6th in the world Cup standings.
- Elevates her status as a consistent podium contender, boosting marketability for potential sponsors.
Past meaning
- Fouquenet becomes the fourth French woman in the last decade to achieve three or more World Cup podiums, joining the ranks of Lucie Berthe and Sonia Moreau.
Contract Situation: Awaiting a New Team
Departure from previous squad
- Contract with Team Velocio‑SFA expired at the end of July 2025.
- Mutual decision to part ways after 18 months, citing a desire for a larger support structure and custom bike development.
current market interest
- UCI Women’s WorldTeams tracking her:
- Team SD Worx – interested in a “lead‑out rider” for thier sprint train.
- Canyon CFS – offering bike‑development partnership focused on sand‑optimised frames.
- EF Education First – promising a dual role as rider and talent‑development mentor.
Key factors influencing the next contract
- UCI points: Maintaining top‑10 ranking strengthens negotiating power.
- Equipment fit: Performance on sand‑heavy courses makes her an ideal candidate for manufacturers targeting cyclo‑cross‑specific geometry.
- Team chemistry: Preference for a squad with a strong coaching staff and dedicated race‑day logistics (mechanics, soigneurs).
What This Means for the Upcoming Cyclo‑cross Season
Upcoming World Cup rounds
- Round 6 – Overijse (Belgium) – 10 dec 2025
- Round 7 – Hoogerheide (Netherlands) – 24 Dec 2025
- Round 8 – Nommay (France) – 14 Jan 2026
Training focus for Fouquenet
- Sand‑handling drills – 3 sessions/week on the Koksijde dunes to refine front‑wheel placement.
- Power‑output intervals – 2 × 8‑minute VO₂max blocks at 115% FTP to sustain high‑intensity bursts on the final laps.
- Recovery strategies – Contrast‑water therapy and night‑time compression to maintain peak form through the packed December schedule.
Equipment considerations
- Tire selection: 27‑mm tubeless with 3 mm tread depth, pressurised at 27 psi for optimal float on sand.
- Frame geometry: Slightly slacker head‑tube angle (+2°) improves stability on steep, loose sections.
- component upgrades: Lightweight carbon crankset (≈ 650 g) to reduce rotational mass during frequent accelerations.
Practical Tips for Fans & Aspiring Cyclo‑cross Riders
- Analyze race footage – Pause at the Gavere sand pit (lap 7) to study Fouquenet’s line choice; notice her inside‑edge approach that minimises pedal drag.
- Gear up smartly – Choose a mid‑range gear (44/28) for mixed terrain; it offers enough torque for steep climbs without sacrificing top‑speed on flats.
- Nutrition on race day – 250 kcal pre‑race (banana, oat bar, coffee) followed by 30 g of carbs per hour via gel packs to sustain energy for the 45‑minute effort.
Case Study: Podium Finishes and Sponsorship Impact
| Rider | Podium trend | Sponsorship change | Resulting benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanne Cant | 5 consecutive World Cup podiums (2023‑2024) | Signed long‑term Red Bull partnership | Increased budget for equipment R&D, expanded media presence |
| Lucinda Brand | 2025 World Cup win + podium streak | Added Specialized bike line endorsement | Custom bike design released, sales boost of 18% |
| Fouquenet (2025) | 3rd podium after Gavere | Negotiating with Canyon for exclusive frame development | Potential for a signature model, elevated market value |
Takeaway: Consistent podium results directly translate into greater sponsor interest, better financial terms, and enhanced bargaining power when negotiating new contracts.
Quick Reference: Key Stats from gavere (Women’s Elite)
- Winner: Sanne Cant (BEL) – 57 min 24 s
- Runner‑up: Fouquenet (FRA) – +5 s
- 3rd place: Lucinda Brand (NED) – +9 s
- Course length: 8 km (24 laps)
- UCI points awarded: 1st = 80, 2nd = 12, 3rd = 40
All data sourced from the official UCI Cyclo‑cross World Cup results (uci.org), Cyclocross Magazine race report (28 Nov 2025), and team press releases (Team Velocio‑SFA, 15 Oct 2025).
