Just hours after celebrating the announcement of the new sponsor that ensures continuity for the ProTour team, Vendée U-Primeo Energie must face painful news: the passing of its sports director Steven Laurent at just 36 years old.

"Sports director of Vendée U since November 2022, Steven was much more than a simple manager: he was driven by a passion for cycling and a desire to support young riders. He tirelessly shared the values of our organization, to which he was deeply attached. We hold profound respect and immense gratitude for the man he was, for his commitment and for everything he brought to our team," the team wrote on social media.

Laurent began his career as a sports director at Vélo Sport Valletais at the end of 2012. He remained there for three years before moving to UC Cholet 49, where he spent one season. From 2017 to 2022 he worked for Laval Cyclisme 53, before joining Vendée U at the end of 2022. A cyclocross enthusiast, he organized the Orée d'Anjou race every year in Saint-Sauveur-de-Landemont (Maine-et-Loire).

Despite the illness he had been fighting for three years, Steven Laurent wanted to continue following his riders with utmost dedication during this 2026 season. He had been present at several competitions, including the Ronde de l'Isard, the Tour du Piémont Pyrénéen and the Tour de la Guadeloupe.