French cycling team recruits Agnoletto

BENDIGO cycling star Blake Agnoletto will race for French-based team Groupama FDJ for the rest of 2025 and across next year.

One of Australia’s most exciting talents in track cycling, Agnoletto has also excelled on the road.

A career high includes victory in last year’s Melbourne to Warrnambool classic (266km).

Agnoletto’s win in cycling’s longest one-day race in the world earnt the January award in the 60th year of Bendigo Sports Star of the Year and followed being a finalist in 2024.

He joined long-time coach and mentor Tim Decker, who is coach of Australia’s track endurance team as a Melbourne to Warrnambool champion.

Both are also on the Bendigo International Madison honour board – Decker teamed with Chris White in 1996 and Angoletto with Oliver Bleddyn in the 50th edition of the great race in 2024.

Agnoletto, 22, had raced with Atom 6 Bikes in this year’s Continental races in Belgium, France and Netherlands.

There have been plenty of supporters in his cycling journey, most notably parents Robyn and Sandy.

A big year of road racing in Europe for Blake followed representing Australia at his first world track championships in Denmark and also racing at the UCI Track Nations Cup in Turkey.

Australia’s team at the 2024 world track titles included another Bendigo gun in Alessia McCaig, who earnt a bronze medal in the women’s team sprint.

McCaig is also a multiple finalist in Bendigo’s Sports Star of the Year awards and was the Maxine Crouch Trust Fund recipient in 2018-19.