Festina was a professional cycling team active from 1989 to 2001. It was sponsored by the Swiss watch manufacturer of the same name.
The team was one of the most prominent teams in the 90’s, when Richard Virenque achieved 2 Tour de France podiums and 4 of his 7 Tour de France KOM jerseys for the team.
Virenque was a favourite in the 1998 Tour de France but after team soigneur Willy Voet was caught by France-Belgium border officials with large quantities of doping products in his Festina team car, all members of the 1998 Tour team including the World Champion Laurent Brochard and Christophe Moreau were arrested and seven admitted to taking EPO and were ejected from the race. Virenque himself didn’t admit taking any ilegal substances at first, but two year later he confessed and was handed a suspension.
Richard Virenque 1993-1998
Christophe Moreau 1995-2001
Sean Kelly 1992-1993