In addition to winning the first edition of France’s gravel national championship, she racked up four more wins, including the general classification at Gravel Burn where she won four of the six stages. And to cap it off, Axelle is joining EF Education-Oatly where she will race a mixed program of gravel and road races.

“This is my dream team,” Axelle said. “They think outside of the box at EF Education-Oatly. It’s the only team where I can see myself because I don’t have a traditional cycling background. I want to be serious and also to keep the joy and the fun in racing.”

Axelle grew up in a cycling family. Both of her parents were avid riders, as were her siblings, so family rides were unavoidable. But Axelle did not immediately fall in love with the sport. It often felt like an obligation. As she grew up, she bounced between cycling and other activities, including dancing and ultra running. Still, she was strong enough on the bike to earn racing contracts, even if she wasn’t sure how much she enjoyed it. It was only when she met her partner that she saw cycling with fresh eyes. Training together, Axelle felt unencumbered, free of pressure for the first time. When an injury threatened to sideline her running career, someone suggested she switch to riding gravel and Axelle fell in love with cycling all over again.

In 2024 and 2025, Axelle raced an increasingly ambitious gravel program as she explored her strengths and improved her weaknesses. Winning Gravel Burn gave her a new level of confidence and she did something out of character: she reached out to EF Education-Oatly general manager Esra Tromp about joining the team in 2026.

“We were looking for a rider who could be competitive in gravel as well as be an asset with our road team so Axelle is a great fit,” Esra said. “On the road, she’s something of an all-rounder and on gravel, she has the endurance for stage races and the speed to go for one-day races. Axelle’s background isn’t that of a typical cyclist and I like that. I think it gives her a healthy perspective on racing and on life knowing that she has chosen to step away from the sport at times. This kind of maturity says a lot about her character.”

Axelle knows what her goals are for both the short-term and long-term.

“This coming season, I want to keep my French gravel national champion’s jersey and I want to race the Traka again,” she said. “And on the road, I want to be a strong teammate so everyone can depend on me.”

Looking ahead a few years, it’s no surprise that the Tour de France Femmes figures prominently in Axelle’s goals.

“When I heard a few years ago that the Tour was coming back, I was out of the cycling world and I felt a bit sad to think that I would never take part in it. I’m French and if someone asks me what I do and I say I’m a cyclist, they immediately ask if I race the Tour de France. It’s the reference. Now after watching the race and seeing that EF Education-Oatly really wants to do something big at the Tour, I would love to make the Tour squad one year,” Axelle said.

The 29-year-old has a degree in dietetics and has worked as a dietician. Apart from cycling, Axelle loves to go on adventures with her partner and their three dogs. They have a van that’s ideal for camping and road trips.

Welcome to EF Education-Oatly, Axelle!