'We will be at the next Tour de France' - TotalEnergies still to secure a title sponsor but make 2027 UCI licence application

TotalEnergies team owner Jean-René Bernaudeau has vowed that the French ProTeam will be at the start of the 2027 Tour de France despite not yet securing a new title sponsor.

TotalEnergies will end their title sponsorship this year but Bernaudeau told Ouest-France that he and team manager Stéphane Heulot have submitted their ProTeam application to the UCI and confirmed their 2027 bank guarantee to cover any possible default on wages.

Bernaudeau admitted he does not yet have a new title sponsor to cover an expected 10 million Euro budget but is convinced the Vendée-based team will survive for another year. 

Ouest-France suggested the Vendée Departmental Council and local businesses are working to help save the team. Sunglass and helmet brand Ekoï is also said to be helping the team, with Chinese bike brand Pardus named as a possible key technical sponsor. 

"We will be at the next Tour de France," Bernaudeau told Ouest-France after days of speculation about the team's future.

"This first obligation has been met. Our application is solid, the budget will be secured… We have significantly reduced the entry point and partners are coming on board. It's intense, but we'll get there."