Groupama-FDJ has announced the signing of seven neo-pros from the Groupama-FDJ Continental Development Team, revamping the team for the 2023 season.

The French team has become known in recent years for promoting young internally developed players, with eight jumping up to the World Tour after 2019, including Jake Stewart, Kevin Jenyets, and Lars van den Bergh.

Now the list of Groupama-FDJ Continental alumni is about to grow further, following the promotions of Lewis Askey in January and Paul Penhoe on August 1.

Topping the list is 19-year-old Giro della Valle d'Aosta champion Lenny Martinez. The teenager from Cannes has been on the podium at the U23 Giro d'Italia this season, as well as in the top 10 at the Classic Alpes Maritimes.

"I am very happy to join the WorldTour team. After the junior program and Conti, I have finished all the stages with the Groupama-FDJ team, so there is continuity," Martinez said. 'I've learned a lot this year. Especially about teamwork, whether it be helping the leader, being a leader myself, or using the work of my teammates.

"I am a climber and I like difficult races with continuous climbing and a fast pace. This year I won the overall in Valle d'Aosta, proving that I am a good climber in the mountains. I also raced several races with the WorldTour team and got to meet Thibaut Pinot and David Gaudoux. I hope I can help David Gault in the mountains in the coming season. He runs hard.

Another teenager, Romain Gregoire, is also stepping up: the 19-year-old is the U23 champion of Liège-Bastogne-Liège and has a stage win and the points jersey in the U23 Giro.

20-year-old Samuel Watson will become the third Briton in the Groupama-FDJ next season. He won the U23 Ghent-Wevelgem in the spring and has stage wins in the Course de la Paix and Tour Alsace, but is perhaps best known for his second place behind Mark Cavendish in the British championships in June.

New Zealanders Reuben Thompson (21) and Lawrence Piti (20) are next on the rookie list. Thompson won the Giro della Valle d'Aosta in 2021 and is second behind Martinez this season and fifth in the U23 Giro, while Piti won the Baltic Chain Tour last year and has two wins in 2022.

Le Triptyque des Monts et Châteaux champion Enzo Parreni (20) and Italian U23 road champion Lorenzo Germani (20) are the successful nurturers who won 10 of the 13 riders in the 2022 race. They completed the list of seven riders who will be promoted from the program to the World Tour Steady.

"Bringing eight riders from Conti to the World Tour is a very logical choice," said Marc Madio, manager of Groupama-FDJ. 'Our development team is full of talented riders, so it was only natural to prioritize their recruitment, and the Conti model we introduced in 2018 has proven its mettle.'

"Our young athletes train and live together, have access to quality performance facilities, and can turn to WorldTour teams for some races. When we recruit them to a WorldTour team, we know they are ready. They have already inherited the DNA of our team and are willing to evolve with us"

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The addition of these seven players is a major refresh for Groupama-FDJ, and the 2023 team will have 10 players under the age of 22.

Of the team's current roster, nine of the 13 players over the age of 30 are out of contract this year. They include Ignatas Konovalovas, Jacopo Guarnieri, Sebastian Reichenbach, and Anthony Roux, who is retiring. Because of the newcomers, several of the team's older riders are expected to move on.

"I think next year we will set a record in average age," Madio said. We were at a crossroads for the team and had an opportunity in front of us."

As Groupama-FDJ Continental's sporting director, Jerome Gana, stated, the track record of the team's development program is unmatched.

"Our main objective has always been to develop young athletes to be able to compete on the World Tour. Eight players from the 2022 promotion group, including Paul Penhoe, will compete on the World Tour next year.

"They were fascinated by the project the team proposed. We offer them not only a contract on the World Tour, but also a long-term sports project. They all have a good state of mind, a good sense of teamwork, and I think they will bring immediate added value."

"What the Groupama-FDJ cycling team has built over the past four years is a success, and more than a third of the WorldTour team will come from Conti next season."

Groupama-FDJ will continue to field top stars in 2022, with big names already signed to long-term contracts.

Thibaut Pinot, David Gaudoux, and Arnaud Demaret are under contract through 2025, and Valentin Maduas through 2024. Stefan Kühn's future is not certain due to interest from Team DSM, but the Swiss time triallist is expected to commit to a contract extension.