Cycling: Au revoir, Sylvain Chavanel. Another French highway hero has retired. What impact does this loss have on Equipe Direct Energie?
Direct Energie 2018: The French and an Estonian
The energy company Direct Energie has been sponsoring the French team since 2016. In fact, this cycling team has existed for 18 years. Starting with Bonjour, the team's name has changed over the years to Brioches La Boulangère, Bouygues Télécom and Europcar. But one thing has always remained the same: the team always presented itself as a typical French second division team. Filled with numerous talents from their own country and a few well-known professionals with a lot of experience, they shaped the races with an aggressive driving style. So it's not surprising that in 2018 there were only French players in the squad - and one Estonian. Purely Taaramäe made five places on the podium. It shouldn't be enough to win. The French brought in 14 in number. Particularly Jonathan Hivert was strong in spring. He alone ensured five wins this season. In the second half of the season, however, the team was only allowed to celebrate once more - not enough for the demands of this well-manned team?
#chava La video du jubilee de notre @chava_sylvain Est prête, découvrez là dès à present. 🤩
➡️Très elegant notre @chava_sylvain en chemise col cassé et nœud papillon 👔 Vous en pensez quoi? 😋https://t.co/sjU9lu4Xwn— Team Direct Energy (@TeamDEN_fr) 3 December 2018
Transfers: Hardly any changes - but Sylvain Chavanel is gone
Just one year after Thomas Voeckler retired, Team Direct Energie has to cope with another painful departure. With Sylvain Chavanel the next legend of country roads is giving up his bike. Otherwise the team loses Jeremy Cornu just another driver. In return, the squad will be significantly broader with five newcomers - and surprisingly international. It's almost like a small revolution with the Italian Niccolo Boniface and the two Dutchmen Pim Ligthart and Niki Terpstra three non-French were signed. While the former is said to cause a sensation in mass sprints, the latter is considered one of the best classic hunters in the world. With Anthony Turgis and Mathieu Burgaudeau two more talented French join the team.
departures | Additions | |
---|---|---|
Sylvain Chavanel (end of career) | Niki Terpstra (Quick Step Floors) | |
Jeremy Cornu (Elite 2) | Pim Ligthart (Roompot – Netherlands Lottery) | |
Niccolo Boniface (Bahrain – Merida) | ||
Anthony Turgis (Cofidis) | ||
Mathieu Burgaudeau (Elite 2) |
Direct Energie 2019: Niki Terpstra is the new star of the team
After Thomas Voeckler and Sylvain Chavanel ended their careers, Equipe Direct Energie could have lost some of its shine. In France you will certainly see it that way, but from an international point of view, the team management with the commitment of Niki Terpstra made a step forward. Unlike Voeckler and Chavanel in their last years, the Dutchman is still an absolute winner. He is capable of winning the most important one-day races in the world - as long as they are not too mountainous. Next to him, hopes rest above all Lilian Calmejane and Thomas Boudat. Boudat in particular is quite capable of an enormous increase in performance.
— Niki Terpstra (@NikiTerpstra) August 16, 2018
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