A day of important announcements and extensions for the French colors. Within just a few hours of each other, both Groupama-FDJ and Tudor announced they had extended existing agreements with Clément Braz Afonso and Matys Rondel, two of the most interesting and promising young riders in the French cycling landscape.

Born in 1999 in Brive-la-Gaillarde, the first (recently the protagonist of a fine breakaway at Tirreno-Adriatico in the Camerino stage won by Isaac Del Toro) will defend the colors of the Thierry Corvec formation until 2028, a year in which it is hoped he will be even more mature and prominent than he is today.

"I continue this adventure with the desire to grow more and more, step by step. This team makes me progress constantly and that is exactly what I'm looking for: to be a reliable, consistent rider, always present when the race heats up" said the winner of the eighth stage of the 2021 Tour de la Guadeloupe (his only victory so far) after signing.

"Last year was a real turning point for me because I learned how to hold on in the final phases of a race, to exploit my potential and to achieve results I never imagined I could reach so soon. Working for my leaders supports me, frees me from pressure and makes me stronger race after race" Braz Afonso continued before explaining the mentality with which he will compete in the coming seasons.

"My objectives for this season and the next two? Remain myself, confirm my values, continue to build relationships and feed off the collective. Responsibilities will come if I deserve them, I don't obsess over this, I don't try to get more through words or promises. I don't want to sell dreams, I prefer to realize them, with work as my only guide. I move forward with curiosity and with the scientific spirit inherited from my engineering background that drives me to understand how performance is built. And above all with the desire to go beyond, because I know where I come from...but not how far I can go".

The work of self-discovery and understanding one's own limits will take place with the support of a structure, that of Groupama-FDJ, which has decided to support him and admire, with equal excitement and curiosity, his next steps forward.

"The contract renewal of Braz Afonso is one of those operations that is so obvious it doesn't even require reflection. The credit for all this goes to him, thanks to the work done alongside the captains, his positive and ambitious attitude and his convincing results that he is confirming in this start of the season" said experienced sports director Philippe Mauduit.

"This two-year extension is the reward for what he has done since he arrived, but we know he won't rest on his laurels. Clément has ambition and this new cycle must allow him, from a sporting perspective, to be up to the task in the most important races alongside his leaders, but also to seize the opportunity when it presents itself to raise his arms to the sky. He has the talent, the potential and the mentality to achieve great victories. Within the group, Clément is also the right person to inspire our young riders, passing on to them his grit, his commitment to work and this obsession with always giving his best. It is a great satisfaction to be able to count on him in the coming seasons".

It will instead be five other seasons (including the one already underway) on which Tudor will be able to showcase and exploit the qualities of Matys Rondel who, after his past in speed skating and his entry into professionalism which materialized just a year ago, has decided to tie himself to Fabian Cancellara's team until 2030, becoming the first and only rider to boast such a long agreement within the Swiss team.

"I am very happy and proud to continue with Tudor, a team truly committed to developing young talents. The renewal of this contract is a sign of mutual trust and testifies to our shared commitment to building our future together" said the twenty-two-year-old from Le Mans after the official announcement of the renewal.

"This is a long-term contract, and that's how I see my growth: as a process that requires time, trust and the right environment. I believe this is the best place to continue to progress and take further steps forward as a climber and stage racer" continued the runner-up of the last Trofeo Tessile & Moda - Valdengo Oropa, a performance which, together with those recorded in this start of 2026 (second at the Trofeo Andratx-Pollença, eighth in the general classification of Paris-Nice), convinced Tudor's management to lock him in for the coming years.

"We are excited to support Rondel's growth and continue to achieve great results together" said CEO and co-owner of the Swiss team Raphael Meyer. "Mathys came from another sport, joined our scouting program, moved to the development team and became a professional with us. Seeing him finish in the top 10 of a WorldTour stage race last year and achieve high-level performances already in this first part of the season makes us proud and demonstrates the solidity of our young talent development project. Tying Mathys to us until 2030 is a clear confirmation of our long-term plans with him" concluded the Tudor chief satisfied.