Should we be worried about the Direct Energie team of Jean-Rene Bernaudeau? Yes, according to the Ouest-France newspaper which speaks about "a sword of Damocles over the head" of the manager. Reached by Cyclism'Actu under the Caribbean sun, Bernaudeau assured that there was "no problem. The UCI has heard what I had to say, there is no danger to the team Direct Energie. The future of the team is assured. I have nothing to say about the article published by this reporter," he said by phone.

While five French teams have already received  their license - FDJ  and  AG2R La Mondiale for the WorldTour and Cofidis,  Fortuneo Vital Concept  and  Delko Marseille-Provence KTM for the ProContinental level - the Direct Energie team which succeeds Europcar and is led by Bryan Coquard in 2016, is still waiting for the nod from the UCI. According to the website of the French newspaper, the UCI refused the file of the new team at the first examination by the license commission for financial reasons. Bernaudeau then went to Aigle in Switzerland for a hearing to settle the dispute. 

The reason for the problem stems from the conflict between team and bike sponsor Colnago whom Pierre Rolland criticized before the  Tour de France. The company refuses to pay the last money and SA Vendée Cycling have been forced to use the bank guarantee. "The License Committee asked for clarification and asked us to solve the situation. To use the bank guarantee is never a positive sign for the judges," a source told Ouest-France. Currently in Guadeloupe, Bernaudeau has no concern: "There are no problems, the team is not in danger." 

Hence, it seems that Bryan Coquard, Sylvain Chavanel, Thomas Voeckler and the rest of the team can prepare calmly for the new season.