B&B p/b KTM team manager Jérôme Pinot insisted that the team's projects are on track for 2023, including the signing of Mark Cavendish.

The French professional team is planning a major expansion for the upcoming season, signing a number of riders including Cavendish, a new major title sponsor, a 15 million euro annual budget, a new women's team including Audrey Cordon-Lago, a partnership with the city of Paris etc. are widely rumored.

These plans were called into question last week when the team failed to complete the initial UCI registration process on time; a press conference scheduled for October 26 in Paris was also hastily canceled.

On Tuesday, L'Equipe expressed concern about the team's plans and Pinault's silence, but noted that the B&B Hotel would remain a major sponsor and invest 5 million euros. Amazon France, Carrefour, and Cdiscount are rumored to be possible sponsors, but L'Equipe said that natural gas and green energy supplier Engie is likely to be the new title sponsor.

Team manager Jérôme Pinault finally broke his silence, telling the French newspaper Le Télégramme that "we have people who will finance the team."

"It is my nature to always worry," Pinault told Le Telegramme.

"Given the current situation, there is always the risk that riders or sponsors will flip."

"These days, it's not easy to get a mortgage on a house.

Now that the October announcement didn't materialize, Pinault said he hopes there will be good news in November.

"We are working. I hope everything works out soon. I have people who support the team. I am in constant contact with them," Pinault told Le Télégramme.

"However, the day after we announce everything, I will be nervous that everything will work out.

Pinault added that he "reassured the riders" and told them that the team management was "putting body and soul into this project" in order to reach what he called "serenity" as quickly as possible.

"I try to make sure they [the riders] sleep better than I do. They have my back."

October 15 is an important deadline for team registration with the UCI, and riders are free to cancel their contracts if a team fails to provide important information and bank guarantees by then.

Cavendish has not yet confirmed his team for 2023, but rumors of a move to B&B Hotels are widespread. He will have a dedicated train to help the team earn a wildcard into the 2023 Tour de France and set a record for stage wins.

Many other riders are expected to join the team, including Cees Bol, Nick Schulz, Ramon Schinkeldam, and veteran Maximiliano Richeze. Pierre Rolland, Luca Mozzato, Julien Morris, Thibault Ferasse, Cyril Lemoine, Maxime Chevalier, and Cyril Gauthier have extended their contracts with the team.

According to L'Équipe, Cavendish and the other new riders agreed to a "memorandum of understanding" in Paris two weeks ago. Cavendish was scheduled to attend a Tour de France presentation in Paris on Thursday morning and then travel to Singapore and Japan for the Tour de France criteriums on October 30 and November 6.

The UCI will complete its assessment of pro team applicants on November 15, giving Pinot three weeks to finalize his plans and ultimately announce a deal with Cavendish for 2023.