Axel Bouquet, new signing for team ARKEA-B&B HOTELS Développement
Axel Bouquet from La Mancha, a Junior 2 this year, will be joining the professional ranks of the ARKEA-B&B HOTELS Développement team next season.
Axel Bouquet :
‘I first came into contact with the ARKEA-B&B HOTELS team via Mickaël Leveau, the sporting director of the World Team and a Norman like myself. It's a great opportunity for me to move up to the professionals as soon as I leave the junior ranks. It's a real privilege. I was born in Avranches, and the ARKEA-B&B HOTELS team is the one geographically closest to where I live. This will enable me to keep my bearings, to take this big step calmly without upsetting myself too much by staying with my family. My father Camille, who was a professional (a rider for 2 years with the Jean Floc'h team in 2000 and 2001, editor's note), passed on his passion to me and after doing football, triathlon and duathlon, I devoted myself fully to cycling from the age of 12. I'd say I have a puncheur-rouleur profile. My team at Moyon-Percy Vélo Club gave me the chance to race in the Elites this year, so I got a taste of these events. It's a real asset for us juniors.'
Pierrick Leclerc, Moyon Percy Vélo Club / Lepelley Electricité U19 manager:
‘Axel Bouquet is the first rider from our squad to sign for the professionals, and he did so straight from the juniors. It shows that he made the right choices at the end of his cadet years. Our Moyon-Percy club has been in existence for 10 years, and we have a U19 team and a National 2 team. This also shows that our project is bearing fruit. As soon as we can, when the calendar allows it and when the young rider and his entourage feel ready, we integrate the juniors into our National 2 team for certain races. They progress physically and tactically, and prepare themselves for the future. They then realise what awaits them in the future. Although we're from Normandy, we've forged a real bond with the ARKEA-B&B HOTELS team because of our geographical proximity, and the presence of riders from the Manche region such as Anthony Delaplace is a real asset. It's a source of pride and success to see Axel sign for the ARKEA-B&B HOTELS Développement team.
