Fouquenet’s Stellar Cyclo-cross Season Faces Uncertain Future Amid team Search
A strong performance at the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in Gavere, where she secured second place, marks the latest success for Amandine Fouquenet, but the two-time French champion remains focused on securing a team for the 2026 season.
The 24-year-old cyclist has rapidly become a force in the cyclo-cross world, demonstrating consistent top-tier results throughout the current season. Fouquenet’s remarkable run includes seven top-10 finishes, a Coupe de france victory in Quelneuc, and consecutive podiums at World Cups in Flamanville and Namur. This momentum culminated in a decisive solo win at Superprestige Heusden-Zolder, a career-defining moment for the rising star.
Just three days after her triumph in Heusden-Zolder, Fouquenet competed in Gavere on Friday, setting a fast pace early in the race. While ultimately unable to match the dominance of Lucinda Brand (Baloise Glowi lions), who extended her winning streak to ten consecutive victories, Fouquenet successfully fended off a strong challenge from Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech) to claim second place.
“I’m really very happy; the pressure has eased a bit after my victory [at Heusden-Zolder],” Fouquenet stated following the race. “I wouldn’t say that everything from now on is just a bonus, because I want to give my best until the end of the season, but I’m already very happy wiht this season.”
Fouquenet highlighted the tactical nature of her battle with Pieterse, explaining, “In the physical sections of the course, I’d say I was a little better than her, so I took advantage of that to try and make a difference, because I knew that in the technical sections, she was better and would catch up quite quickly. It was a great battle.”
However, despite her recent successes, a meaningful challenge looms for Fouquenet. Following the dissolution of the Arkéa-B&B Hotels team after four years, she finds herself actively seeking a new team for the 2026 season. She initially expressed her concerns on Instagram in October, stating, “The future remains uncertain… But I remain hopeful that cyclocross will open up a great prospect for me in 2026.”
After the Gavere race, Fouquenet reiterated her hope that her consistent results will attract potential sponsors. “The fact that I’m getting concrete results – I didn’t just get a podium finish in Flamanville, now it’s namur, and I won this week, and than finished second again. I certainly hope this streng
Fouquenet is currently competing in Dendermonde on Sunday, continuing her pursuit of both on-course victories and a stable future within the sport.
Here’s a breakdown answering the “Why, Who, What, and how” questions, turning the update into a substantive news report:
Who: Amandine Fouquenet, a 24-year-old French cyclo-cross cyclist and two-time national champion, is the central figure.Lucinda Brand and Puck Pieterse are also mentioned as competitors.
What: Fouquenet secured second place at the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in Gavere, continuing a accomplished season marked by wins and podium finishes. Though, she faces uncertainty about her future as her team, Arkéa-B&B Hotels, has dissolved, leaving her searching for a new team for the 2026 season.
Why: Fouquenet is striving to
