Olympic biathlete Émilien Jacquelin joins Decathlon-CMA CGM devo team

Four-time Olympic biathlon medallist Émilien Jacquelin will join Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale's NewGen development team from May 1st. The French athlete, renowned for his aggressive biathlon style and nine World Championship medals, will transition to road cycling, a move confirmed by the team. This marks a significant cross-sport recruitment for the new development squad.

This signing is intriguing, given Jacquelin’s established career in a completely different discipline. While biathlon demands exceptional endurance and tactical acumen, the transition to professional road cycling is rarely seamless, especially at 28 years old. Decathlon-AG2R's investment in a proven, high-calibre athlete, albeit from a different sport, signals their intent to explore unconventional talent pathways for their NewGen team, perhaps banking on his raw physiological talent and competitive drive.

It seems Decathlon-AG2R is either playing a very long game or simply enjoys a good narrative. Time will tell if Olympic-level lungs translate directly to Grand Tour ambitions.