XEFI replaces TotalEnergies as title sponsor of Bernaudeau’s cycling team

XEFI, a French IT services group, has been confirmed as title sponsor of Jean-René Bernaudeau’s professional cycling team from 2027 to 2029, replacing TotalEnergies, according to ProCyclingUK, citing the team’s official announcement, in a deal that secures a three-year title partnership after months of uncertainty over the team’s future.

The team will compete simply as XEFI, according to ProCyclingUK. It noted that sponsorship alone does not amount to formal approval of a UCI ProTeam licence, as SA Vendée Cyclisme was missing from the initial registration list published in October.

XEFI is a French IT services group for small and medium-sized businesses, headquartered in Rillieux-la-Pape near Lyon, with more than 200 local agencies across France, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium and Monaco and 2025 revenue of €413 million, according to Ouest-France.

Vendée Cyclisme is the Vendée-based organisation behind the professional team, led by president Jean-René Bernaudeau, which has started every men’s Tour de France since 2000, according to ProCyclingUK.

TotalEnergies is a French multinational energy company, whose title sponsorship of the team ends after the 2026 season, according to ProCyclingUK.

Sacha Rosenthal, founder and president of XEFI, said in the team’s official announcement, in remarks translated from French by ProCyclingUK: “Seeing XEFI on this team’s jersey will be a very emotional moment.”

Bernaudeau said in the official statement, as reported by ProCyclingUK, that he is particularly happy to see XEFI partner with Vendée Cyclisme, and the statement highlighted a shared focus on developing young people and keeping the organisation’s regional identity.

XEFI has backed the amateur club Vélo Club de Villefranche-Beaujolais since 2018 and launched its XEFI Academy training initiative in 2020, according to ProCyclingUK.

Jordan Jegat, Anthony Turgis and Mathieu Burgaudeau are leaving for other teams, according to ProCyclingUK, so the sponsorship arrives as the roster is rebuilt.

Ouest-France reported last week that a three-year agreement had been reached but that the company’s identity was confidential, according to ProCyclingUK.

For the sector, the deal shows a regional IT services group stepping in to keep a long-running professional team alive, with title sponsorship tied to staff development and a franchise network rather than to an energy brand.