French cyclocross champion Amandine Fouquenet has made an impressive start to her 2025-26 season, even as she faces an uncertain future following the collapse of her Arkéa-B&B Hotels team.
The 24-year-old currently continues to race in her French national champion’s Arkéa-branded jersey, but the team officially ceased operations at the end of October. Without a contract for 2026, Fouquenet is now competing as an independent rider while she searches for a new squad.
Despite the off-bike uncertainty, her performances on the course have been stronger than ever. Fouquenet has already finished third at Overijse, fourth at Ruddervoorde, and eighth at the Koppenbergcross in Oudenaarde, marking a clear step forward from her results last winter when she typically hovered around the top ten.
Speaking to DirectVelo, she acknowledged that it has been a mentally testing period but one that has brought out her best form. “The results so far have been very positive,” she said. “I haven’t had any big drops in performance and I hope that continues. I’m trying to give myself every chance, which isn’t easy when you don’t have a team. Mentally it’s not simple, but physically I feel ready and I want to show that I’m a fighter.”
After finishing her final road race in mid-September, Fouquenet undertook her first altitude training camp, an experience she believes has made a real difference. “I’m thankful to Arkéa for their support until now, and to my partners Legendre and M’Gys for standing by me this season,” she said. “But I’m still hoping to find a new team for 2026, both for cyclocross and the road. I’ll turn 25 next year and I feel that I’m reaching my peak.”
She added that a renewed focus on discipline and detail has helped her raise her game. “In the past I didn’t pay as much attention to recovery and technical work, but this year I’ve changed that completely. I’ve improved my nutrition, my sleep and my handling skills. I told myself I had to go all-in this season.”
That commitment has translated into her best-ever results on the international scene. Fouquenet says her goal is now to keep herself in the spotlight and prove she deserves a professional contract. “I know I’m not a star on the road, but I’m ambitious in cyclocross,” she explained. “Teams are nearly full and it’s difficult everywhere financially, but I won’t give up. I hope that soon, the phone will ring.”
For now, the French champion continues to wear the Arkéa colours that defined her breakout years – a reminder of both what she has achieved and what she still has to fight for as she seeks a new home in the peloton.