From charcuterie workshops to the Tour de France? The incredible adventure of this cycling team that continues to grow

In 2025, the Philippe-Wagner Bazin cycling team, established in Breuches (Haute-Saône) four years ago, will transition into a ProTeam (second world division) following a merger with a Belgian team. This marks a significant milestone for Team Philippe Wagner, bringing them closer to their ultimate goal: the Tour de France.

This is the story of a cycling team that originated in a charcuterie workshop in Haute-Saône and is now on the brink of participating in the Tour de France just four years later. In 2022, Philippe Wagner, CEO of the charcuterie company André Bazin in Breuches (Haute-Saône), founded his national cycling team with a clear ambition to reach the highest levels of competition.

Actions quickly followed words. Consider this: next year, his team will compete in the second international division. After two seasons in the National division marked by outstanding performances, Team Philippe Wagner reached a significant milestone this year. Just two years after its inception, it will move up to the continental level, the third tier of the world circuit, in 2024, thanks to a merger with the Belgian team Matériel-vélo.com.

A new milestone was achieved on August 13th. The Haute-Saône team announced a merger agreement with the Belgian team Cycling Team Bingoal WB in a press release. This merger once again promotes Team Wagner: “A new team, with a Franco-Belgian identity, will debut in the 2025 season with UCI ProTeam status (2nd world division).”

Philippe Wagner, creator and president of the team, in front of his riders.
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© Antoine Laroche / France Télévisions

According to Philippe Wagner, creator and president of Team Philippe Wagner/Bazin, it’s logical. “When I got involved in the world of cycling, it was to perform,” he told our journalist Alexane Marcel. “I had the desire to transition to Pro Team in 2024, but I hadn’t found new sponsors to make that happen. Finally, we chose a different path with this merger.”

“It’s a well-executed merger with a team that was already competing in the second world division. We spoke with Christophe Brandt, the director of Bingoal, who is a former cyclist,” Philippe Wagner continued. “In terms of sports, they were more advanced, with a team that was already structured. But I can offer my entrepreneurial vision and resources. It’s a win-win situation.”

Why not join forces to create a project that could become even bigger in the future?

Philippe Wagner,

creator and president of Team Philippe Wagner / Bazin

“With this merger, we will have access to more significant races. Like Paris-Roubaix, the Tour of Flanders, or Paris-Nice,” Philippe Wagner expressed enthusiastically. “These are legendary races that will bring us visibility. We will also participate in international events in Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany. It is an exciting opportunity.”

The Franche-Comté team, which has now become Franco-Belgian, is undeniably progressing. However, with so many mergers, won’t it lose its identity? “Not at all,” Philippe Wagner replied. “We are combining our strengths; it’s a co-constructed project that will allow us to move forward even further. We do not deny Haute-Saône: evidence of this is that our performance center will remain in Breuches.”

What about the riders and sports management? While nothing has been finalized, not all of the Wagner team’s riders will be part of the new venture next year. “Not all of them are at the level for the second division,” Philippe Wagner acknowledged. “But I can assure you that several of them, along with a large portion of the staff, will stay with us.”

Team Philippe Wagner-Bazin celebrated its move to the international division on Monday, January 15
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© Antoine Laroche / France Télévisions

The name of this future team and its colors have yet to be decided. However, it is already clear that Philippe Wagner is achieving his ambitious goal. And he does not plan to stop here. “This is just one step,” he assures us. “I have ambition. The first question we ask a cyclist is whether they have competed in the Tour de France. That is the ultimate goal, and we will reach it in two or three years.” The appointment is set.

Philippe-Wagner Bazin Cycling Team: A Journey to ProTeam Status

In 2025, the Philippe-Wagner Bazin cycling team, founded in Breuches (Haute-Saône) four years ago, will evolve into a ProTeam (2nd world division) after a merger with a Belgian team. A new step for Team Philippe Wagner, which is getting closer and closer to its goal: the Tour de France.

The Origins of Team Philippe Wagner

This is the story of a cycling team born in the workshops of a charcuterie company in Haute-Saône and which, four years later, is on the verge of the Tour de France. In 2022, Philippe Wagner, CEO of the charcuterie company André Bazin, created his national cycling team with the ambition, very quickly, to reach the summits.

Rapid Progression in Competitive Cycling

And actions quickly followed words. Judge for yourself: next year, his team will fight in the 2nd international division. After two seasons in the National division punctuated by great performances, Team Philippe Wagner had already passed a milestone this year. Only two years after its creation, it will evolve in 2024 to the continental level, the third division of the world circuit, thanks to a merger with the Belgian team Matériel-vélo.com.

A new milestone was reached on August 13th. The Haute-Saône team announced in a press release an agreement with the Belgian team Cycling Team Bingoal WB, for a merger of the two entities. With, once again, a promotion to the next level for Team Wagner: “a new team, with a Franco-Belgian identity, will be entered during the 2025 season with UCI ProTeam status (2nd world division)“.

Philippe Wagner, creator and president of the team, in front of his riders.
•
© Antoine Laroche / France Télévisions

Philippe Wagner’s Vision and Strategy

Logical, according to Philippe Wagner, creator and president of Team Philippe Wagner / Bazin. “When I got involved in the world of cycling, it was to perform,” he assures our journalist Alexane Marcel. “I already had the desire to move to Pro Team in 2024, but I had not found new sponsors to achieve this. Finally, we took another path, with this merger,” he explains.

A well-executed merger with a team that was already playing in the 2nd world division. “We spoke with Christophe Brandt, the director of Bingoal, who is a former cyclist,” continues Philippe Wagner. “In terms of sport, they were better, with a team that was already structured. But I could bring them my entrepreneurial vision and resources. It’s a win-win situation.”

Why not join forces to build a project that could be even bigger in the future?

Philippe Wagner,

creator and president of Team Philippe Wagner / Bazin

Benefits of the Merger

“With this merger, we will have access to more important races. Like Paris-Roubaix, the Tour of Flanders or Paris-Nice,” Philippe Wagner enthuses. “These are legendary races, which will bring us visibility. We will also compete in international races in Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany. It is also very interesting.”

Maintaining Team Identity

The Franche-Comté team, which has become Franco-Belgian, is progressing; that’s a fact. But with so many mergers, won’t it lose its identity? “No way,” answers Philippe Wagner. “We combine our skills, it is a co-constructed project to allow us to move forward even more. We do not deny the Haute-Saône: the proof is that our performance center will remain in Breuches.”

Future of Riders and Management

What about the riders and the sports management? If nothing has been decided yet, not all of the Wagner team’s riders will be part of the adventure next year. “Not all of them are at the level of the 2nd division,” concedes Philippe Wagner. “But I can assure you that several of them and a large part of the staff will stay with us.”

Team Philippe Wagner-Bazin celebrated its move to the international division on Monday, January 15
•
© Antoine Laroche / France Télévisions

The Road Ahead

The name of this future team and its colours have yet to be determined. But it is already certain that Philippe Wagner is succeeding in his ambitious venture. He does not intend to stop there. “This is just one step,” he assures us. “I have ambition. The first thing we ask a cyclist is if he has done the Tour de France. That is the ultimate goal. And we will get there, in two or three years.” The appointment is made.