San Michele Mavic Auber 93 has set a deadline of the end of September to find a new sponsor to replace Mavic.

The team is competing in the Tour de France Femme, and team manager Stephane Javalet told Cycling News that the team will continue as an elite program if it cannot find a funder to replace Mavic soon.

“More or less, we have time until the end of September. If we can't find a co-sponsor, it could be difficult for the women's team. If there are problems, something has to be decided,” Javale and press officer Alexandre Bertal told Cycling News in Rotterdam.

Javale confirmed that Mavic is currently providing both financial and equipment support for the St. Michel Mavic Ober 93, but this contract expires at the end of this season. Going forward, Javaret clarified that Mavic will remain an equipment sponsor.

“We only need one co-sponsor to replace Mavic. Mavic will remain as a sponsor, but will no longer provide funding. Our contract with Mavic ends this year, but they will stay on as a material sponsor.”

Under the management of CM Obervilliers, Saint-Michel Mavic Ober93 has a 30-year history in men's racing with a continental license to race, a women's team in 2020, and then a continental license in 2022.

In the two seasons prior to that, the women's team steadily grew into one of the top teams registered in France, ranking 21st in the UCI world rankings behind FDJ-SUEZ, the only WorldTour team in France, and Cofidis, which is ranked 19th. The Saint-Michel-Mavic-Ober 93 men's team is currently ranked 36th in the world, but Mavic's departure as a financial partner does not appear to affect the men's program.

The UCI plans to introduce a UCI women's professional team division in 2025. Javale confirmed that the team has applied for a women's professional team license. However, the deadline for registration information, bank guarantees, and financial documents is coming up in October. However, deadlines for registration information, bank guarantees, and financial documents are coming up in October.

He stated that if the team cannot find a financial co-sponsor, they will not be able to move forward with plans to obtain a professional women's team license. At least until the team can find additional financial support to reapply for a professional team license in the future, becoming an elite team or a development team for 2025 would be an option.

“This is not the end. We are still looking to the future. If not a professional team, we can still have an amateur structure for a women's team. We have submitted all the paperwork to the UCI to become a professional team in 2025.”

“If it doesn't work out, we hope it works out, but if it doesn't, we have plans A, B, and C. We are not going to end the women's program. We are not going to end the women's program. Our team has grown very well. We still have some riders left and we have goals for next year.”

The team will compete in the Tour de France Femme with Marion Bunnell for the overall and the final two days (La Grand Bornand on stage 7 and the summit of Alpe d'Huez on stage 8).

At the start of the first stage in Rotterdam, Bunel told Cycling News, “I'm in good shape. I scouted the Alpe d'Huez and I like this climb. It's going to be a very hard race, but I'm ready to fight with the other riders. A top five would be great, that's what I'm dreaming of. I don't have a specific position in mind, but I'll do my best every day.

Bunel admitted to Cycling News that he has already signed a contract for the 2025 season.

“I gave the team all the information a few weeks ago, so everyone knows. Now I'm concentrating on the Tour de France femme. Several riders have already found teams for next year, and some are currently waiting in the wings. We are the same way,” Javare said.

“We are waiting too. It is very difficult to find a company and we have to wait until the beginning of September. If someone would call us and come here directly, we would be here [at the Tour de France Femme].”

Meanwhile, the team announced that it has brought in Pierre Rolland's SportEthik as a partner in the team; Javalet could develop into a broader partnership if the team can find a financial backer in 2025.

“[The team is] a monument to cycling and I always knew it. Having made strong choices during the club's existence, today we can enjoy two women's teams and a men's team that are evolving at the continental level,” Laurent said.

“The club benefits from the support of loyal partners involved in social initiatives. Today, however, the team has put the brakes on its evolution. With humility and determination, we will do all we can to help them overcome this obstacle and move forward."

Javale stressed that the organization will do its best to raise funds before considering the option of forming an elite development team.

“If we don't get a professional team [license] this year, we will try again another year. But we are not considering amateurs yet.

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