With 8 new signings, Bretagne has been one of the most active teams on the transfer market. Manager Emmanuel Hubert explains the reason for his decision to make marquee signings of riders like Pierrick Fedrigo, Yauheni Hutarovich and Jonathan Hivert.

Bretagne-Seche Environnement have signed 8 new riders for the 2015 season in which the roster will be increased from 16 to 20 riders. In 2015, the team will be made up of 40% new riders, making it a very different team that will hit the road when the new season starts.

"It has only been possible due to the involvement of our partners: the Bretagne region, Seche Environnement, Jean Floch, the Sill group. It was necessary to go from sixteen to twenty riders and we have signed 8 newcomers. In fact, only four riders have not had their contracts renewed. That is only 25% of the workforce in 2014. We live in a hyper-competitive business so it's pretty normal."

Already at the end of the Tour, Hubert offered all 9 riders at the Grande Boucle a contract for 2015.

"I wanted to finish our first Tour de France with nine riders. They fully deserved a reward. Unfortunately, they had some trouble digesting the Tour as they all finished the race very tired, probably more psychological than physical. But I know they will work hard this winter and they will be ready in 2015."

Before being set back by injuries, Eduardo Sepulveda proved that he is a huge stage racing talent. The Argentinean was set to lead the team in the Tour but his health issues took him out of the race. He was rumoured to be joining Cannondale but will stay with Bretagne in 2015.

"After the Tour, Cannondale was no longer interested because the team would not continue in its current form in 2014, merging with Garmin. But there were many other rivals, some from other WorldTour teams. Yes, it is a great asset for the future of our team to keep Edu."

Among the new signings, Pierrick Fedrigo and Jonathan Hivert are probably the biggest names.

"At 35 years of age, Pierrick is still full of resources. He just needs to have confidence and he will again do big things. I am sure he will thrive in our family. "Jo" is a winner. When everything is in place, he is able to finish the work in almost every terrain. They are two great competitors, two winners who have not had the best position in 2014. That is why they are there."

In 2014, Romain Feillu has been the team's undisputed sprinter but next year he will have to share the job with Romain Feillu.

"[Whether there will be internal] competiton? Yes and no," Hubert said. "With twenty riders, we will more often be riding two races simultaneously so it makes good sense. And I think it will do good for Romain to get a little boost. He needs a fair but effective competition. He needs to win again. He has promised to work hard this winter. For "Huta", the goal is to win as much as possible and play leading roles in the individual Coupe de France stanings and in the Europe Tour ranking."

This year the team has only signed two Breton riders, Maxime Cam and Matthew Boulo.

"With two out of eight, the Breton ratio is low," Hubert said. "The Breton riders we were interested in were either under contract or had too many financial demands. Others didn't want to join us. In this phase, the choices are often difficult. Nevertheless, I will always be 100% Breton. But we also have partners who have their business outside Bretagne. We need to satisfy everybody. If Warren Barguil or Cyril Gautier were available, maybe they would be with us. Having seen Breton talent escape us, we decided to establish an official reserve team, BIC 2000, in 2015. We will have some the biggest Bretons talents, Danes, Madouas, Bonnamour. I am convinced that Bretagne is has some of the greatest cycling talent in France."

A surprise signing was young British sprinter Daniel McLay.

"The opportunity to recruit young talent of his caliber is rare," Hubert said. "Daniel was junior world champion with Simon Yates, he has been training in an English school that has created lots of talents in recent years, he won a stage in the Tour of Normandy and one in the Tour de l'Avenir of the season.

"We could not miss this opportunity. Several WorldTour teams also wanted to sign him. It's part of my role as manager to optimize the team and to sign riders that can win. Here I am working with my partnes. I tell them this when I convince them to join our team.These partners are winners in their respective fields, they want to be leaders in their markets, they do not want to support a team that just follows wheels. To survive, we need to win."

Benjamin Le Montagner, Erwann Corbel, Clement Koretzky and Vegard Laengen didn't get their contract renewed.

"Benjamin found the step from amaterus to pros to be too big," Hubert said. "It was not easy for him to find his place. It was a great pleasure to work with him. Erwann is different. He did not seriously listed to the advice and duties we have given him during the last two years. We explained the rigorous job in the pros but he was not listening at all. However, it was a big dilemma because he is a classy rider. Erwann has temperament. I am sure he will again have an opportunity.

"Clement has a lot of great physical attributes but the acclimatization to Bretagne was complicated for him. I am sure he will find a place for 2015 elsewhere in the pro ranks for 2015. For Vegard, I talked a lot with his former team manager in Norway. He will certainly find a team for 2015. He needs to learn something, especially on the technical side, and then he will bounce back to where he should be. He is also a quality runner."

Finally, Hubert reveals that he has a pleasant surprise for the fans of his team.

"For all with a Breton heart like me, there will be a positive announcement at the end of the month. A regional figure will join our team."