Former Lotto CEO Stéphane Heulot set to take over leadership at TotalEnergies

Bernaudeau, who turns 70 in 2026, had previously indicated his intention to leave and will reportedly hand over control to Heulot earlier than expected. The transition was initially anticipated to occur during the 2026 season.

"This is both a slight surprise and a logical choice," Ouest-France reported. "Logical because the two men share a sense of values and the same vision of authentic cycling."

The 54-year-old Heulot brings significant experience to the role, most recently serving as Lotto CEO. A professional cyclist himself, from 1992 to 2002, Heulot wore the yellow jersey in the 1996 Tour de France and claimed the French national championship that same year. 

Recently, he successfully led Lotto back to the WorldTour, but departed the team in September amid the ongoing merger between the team and Intermarché-Wanty. 

“My departure is a well-considered decision,” said Stéphane Heulot in a previous statement released by Lotto confirming the end of their collaboration after three years. “I want to dedicate myself to other and new projects.”

In a previous interview with CyclismActu.net, Heulot explained his decision to leave Lotto: "It wasn't burnout. I feel I accomplished my mission. I arrived at a team that was falling apart financially, logistically and humanly. There was no real management. It was a huge rebuilding job, but after three years, I'd reached the limit of what I could do. The system had become too political."

Bernaudeau's own racing career included many impressive achievements, with four Grand Prix du Midi Libre victories between 1980 and 1983, a bronze medal at the 1979 World Championship road race, and a day in the yellow jersey during the 1979 Tour de France, where he also claimed the best young rider classification en route to fifth overall. 

After retirement, Bernaudeau founded the amateur team Vendée U in 1991 before transforming it into a professional outfit in 2000 under the Bonjour banner, with recognised stints as Bouygues Telecom and Team Europcar, before transitioning to Direct Energie, and now TotalEnergies. 

In total, the team have won 11 stages of the Tour de France, with Pierrick Fédrigo winning the first in 2006, and most recently Anthony Turgis sprinting to victory from the breakaway on the gravel stage in the 2024 edition.

One of the immediate challenges facing the new management, following Bernaudeau, will be securing the team's future beyond the end of 2026, with TotalEnergies concluding its title sponsorship after what will be a decade-long partnership. The French energy company became the title sponsor in 2019 after three years as Direct Energie.