The key facts

  • Ben O'Connor returned to Decathlon CMA CGM, contract until 2028
  • Pavel Sivakov signed a three-year agreement after leaving UAE Team Emirates
  • The newcomers will strengthen 20-year-old team leader Paul Seixas in the mountains

O'Connor returns to the French team

Australian cyclist Ben O'Connor has returned to Decathlon CMA CGM, where he will ride alongside rising star Paul Seixas, the French team announced on Tuesday. The 30-year-old Australian will also be joined by a compatriot of a new signing — Frenchman Pavel Sivakov.

Contract until 2028 and past achievements

O'Connor, who spent the last two years riding for Jayco AlUla, signed a contract until 2028. With the team, which in 2021 was called AG2R Citroen, he won a Tour de France stage in Tignes on an unusually cold day, and also won a stage of the 2024 Vuelta, where he finished second in the general classification. In addition, in 2025, as part of Jayco AlUla, he won a Tour stage at the Col de la Loze.

Sivakov signs a three-year contract

The 29-year-old Sivakov was also announced by the team on Tuesday: he moved from Tadej Pogacar's UAE Team Emirates under a three-year agreement.

The newcomers' role — support for Seixas

The experienced duo, along with a third newcomer — Belgian Laurent De Plus — are expected to become valuable mountain helpers for the 20-year-old French wonderkid Seixas.