Victor Lafay, a cyclist from Cofidis, will be changing teams at the end of the season. Although the contract hasn’t been signed yet, he is expected to join the AG2R-Citroën team.
Several teams had been in contact with Lafay’s agent, former professional cyclist Christophe Le Mével, as the French rider’s contract with his current team, Cofidis, is set to expire.
INEOS Grenadiers had been in negotiations with Lafay for some time, but suddenly, four more WorldTeams showed interest in the cyclist’s services. INEOS emerged as the “top choice” on the table for a while, but Lafay ultimately chose to transfer to AG2R Citroën Team, even though the team is set to lose its primary sponsor for 2024.
Salary of over 1 million Euros
According to the French newspaper, Cédric Vasseur, the Cofidis coach, offered him a renewal with an annual salary of almost… 1.5 million euros. AG2R, although not offering the same amount, made him an offer significantly above one million.
This sum, coupled with the assurance of continuing to ride in the region where he first started cycling, convinced him to choose AG2R. Especially because the team’s manager, Vincent Lavenu, is committed to respecting his uniqueness. Lafay admits that sometimes he needs to interrupt training for a day or two to recharge his batteries.
