Total Direct Energie want panache not 'radio-controlled riders' in 2020

Julian Alaphilippe and Thibaut Pinot
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Total Direct Energie team manager Jean-René Bernaudeau tried but failed to sign Julian Alaphilippe for 2020, but he hopes his riders can be inspired by their fellow Frenchman's panache as they try to compete against far wealthier and far stronger WorldTour teams.

Total Direct Energie topped the Professional Continental team rankings in 2019 and so have secured an automatic place in all the 2020 WorldTour races. They are likely to ride the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France but may give up a place in the Vuelta a Espana and other races so they can balance racing aggressively with trying to score precious ranking points and thus secure their top spot and another automatic place in the Tour de France for 2021.

Stephen Farrand
Head of News

Stephen is the most experienced member of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. He has been Head of News at Cyclingnews since 2022, before which he held the position of European editor since 2012 and previously worked for Reuters, Shift Active Media, and CyclingWeekly, among other publications.