COFIDIS 2024

Having made a very good start to the season (8 podiums, including 5 second places), the young sprinter from Cofidis finally took first place by outclassing his rivals in the sprint. In the final of this twelfth round of the Coupe de France, seven riders were vying for victory. The last 800 metres are flat (4%). With less than 300 meters to go, Axel Zingle decides to accelerate. He makes the gap and crosses the line three bikes ahead. Irresistible! Behind him, two Ekoï riders complete the podium: Alexandre Delettre (Saint-Michel-Mavic-Auber93) and Mads Würtz Schmidt (Israel Premier Tech). Cofidis signs its second victory of the year and Ekoï a nice hat-trick! Winner's statement: "We had agreed on well-defined roles with Jimmy Engoulvent (the coach). We knew it was going to be tiring, and that we had to save some ammunition for the end. Everyone in the team played the game well, and then it was up to me to take charge." Ekoï equipment: Ekoï AR14 helmet and Twenty goggles

Promised for sprinters, this stage will have succeeded for breakaways. With less than 80 kilometers to go, Benjamin Thomas (28, five-time world track champion) and three other riders formed the day's breakaway. The four escapees worked so well together that they managed to keep the peloton at a good distance. At the flamme rouge, Italian rider Andrea Pietrobon, who had been skipping the relays for a few kilometers, tried his luck. And just when it looked as if he'd given his breakaway companions the slip, Benjamin Thomas, like a good pistard, positioned himself, temporized and accelerated to cut the line in a strong move. United Nations Festival in Paris A festival of firsts! First Ekoï victory on the Giro 2024. First Cofidis success of the year. First trophy for Benjamin Thomas on a Grand Tour (10th pro victory) Declarations: From the winner: "It was a very long chase! With around ten kilometers to go, we had a bit of a lead on the peloton and I knew there was a move to be made (...) I knew the finish and I think that helped me. I'm very happy to win in Italy." From sport director Roberto Damiani: "It's a real team effort. This victory feels so good! Simon (Greschke) was in the breakaway at the start and then we rode in a group until the intermediate sprint. Benjamin attacked afterwards, the peloton stalled and the breakaway went on to the finish. He managed the finish well before taking the win." Ekoï equipment: Ekoï AR14 helmet + Twenty goggles

3 Ekoï-equipped teams are at the start of the 107th edition of the Giro d'Italia. They all have the same ambition: to win stages! The 8 riders from Israel Premier Tech are: Simon CLARKE, Marco FRIGO, Hugo HOFSTETTER, Riley PICKRELL, Nadav RAISBERG, Nick SCHULTZ, Ethan VERNON and Michael WOODS. The latter enters the Giro with the status of team leader. He's eyeing a stage win that would put him in the winner's circle of all 3 Grand Tours. At Cofidis, the sporting director is clear: "the major objective is to do everything to go for a stage win. We'll be counting on Benjamin Thomas in the two time trials, and on Stanislaw Aniolkowski and Stefano Oldani during the mass sprints." Strength: ANIOŁKOWSKI Stanisław, DEBEAUMARCHÉ Nicolas, CHAMPION Thomas, FERNÁNDEZ Rubén, GESCHKE Simon, THOMAS Benjamin, WOOD Harrison and OLDANI Stefano (leader). Arkéa B&B Hôtels fields a team made up of BIERMANS Jenthe, BARRÉ Louis, COSTIOU Ewen,DEKKER David, GRONDIN Donavan,RIES Michel, RIOU Alan, VERRE Alessandro. Ewen Costiou, a promising young rider, will be one to watch for a good general classification on his first Grand Tour and Belgian sprinter Jenthe Biermans will be the leader for grouped finishes.

After the third stage of the Tour Down Under, two Ekoï riders stand on the podium in the GC : the young New Zealander, Corbin Strong (Ekoï helmet, glasses and textile), for ISRAËL PREMIER TECH and the 26-year-old French puncher, Axel Mariault (Ekoï helmet and glasses), for COFIDIS. What an auspicious start for a season already crowned with two national cyclo-cross titles in France and Spain !

If it was necessary to be solid to hold on to the long breakaway of the day (26 fugitives at the front on a unbridled pace over 100 km), everything really came down to the only difficulty of this eleventh stage... On the ascent of Laguna Negra (6.5 kms at 6.8%, 11% for the final), the surviving climbers competed for victory on the pedal. In this little game, experience has won. Herrada first stalled before exiting in the last 300 meters. A well-chosen moment to carry, like a puncher, a frank, robust and unstoppable attack. At 33, Jesus expands his record on the Vuelta with a third success (2019.2022) and allows his team to triumph for the third time this year on a Grand Tour. Tomorrow, the Spanish rider will wear the distinctive white jersey with blue polka dots of the Mountain. Note the third place of the winner of the 2nd stage Andréas Kron (Lotto-Dstny) and the team classification of the Spanish formation Burgos BH with three riders in the top 20.

For this 110th edition of the Tour de France, four Ekoï teams were on the starting line: Israel Premier-Tech, Arkéa-Samsic, Cofidis and Lotto-Dstny. It didn't take long to see one of them shine. Second stage and the first victory obtained thanks to a masterful look from Victor Lafay (Cofidis), who surprised the strongest by starting at the kilometer to cross the line alone. Enjoyable! A week later, the experienced Michael Woods (Israel Premier-Tech) made a fantastic climb of the very difficult Puy de Dôme. Returning one by one to his adversaries, he defeats them in the most severe percentages. Mythical ! During the 12th stage, Cofidis distinguished again with the Spanish rider Ion Izaguirre, author of an irresistible ride of 30 kilometers rewarded with a superb and indisputable victory. Solid ! Many cyclisrts also distinguished themselves. Among them, it is impossible not to mention the Belgian Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny) with many breakaway attempts, often at kilometer 0. In Paris, it is not by chance that he won the super combative trophy. Krists Neilands (Israel Premier-Tech) found himself in the “right shot” several times and showed remarkable combativeness. Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) was damn pugnacious by hanging on throughout the mountain stages. His 10th place overall is well deserved. On the sprint side, we note the second and third places of Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Dstny) and the third place of Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) in the green jersey classification. The Arkéa-Samsic formation also showed up at the front of the race: and in the first place Laurent Pichon who put on a show for 155 kilometers (!) He will inspire his teammates, Anthony Delaplace an...

As usual, the first part of the stage looks more like a parade where the riders savor petits fours and champagne, than a cycling race. However, as you approach the most beautiful avenue in the world, there is no time to get your room.Entering the Champs..Elysées marks the real start of the battle. After only a few laps of the circuit, Clarke (Israel-Premier Tech) and Frison (Lotto-Dstny) come out on top and make the last breakaway of this Tour de France. Campenaets (Lotto-Dstny) freshly elected "most combative runner of this 110th edition" is also trying his luck but the pace imposed by the sprinters teams allows no escape. But what a champion despite everything.For the ultimate sprint, the grail of all runners with well-developed hocks, note 3 Ekoï runners in the TOP 10: Coquard (Cofidis) 7th, Strong (Israel-Premier Tech) 9th, Mozzato (Arkéa-Samsic) 10th.Overall, Guillaume Martin takes a good 10th place.Photo credit: Sprint Cycling and Sirotti

The 133.5 kilometers of this penultimate stage of the Tour promise to be nervous, especially since the profile offered to the 151 surviving riders does not include a single meter of flat. The game can begin: do "vosges", nothing goes!In this little game, the first to reveal their hand are the two runners from Lotto-Dstny Campenaerts and De Buyst. From the opening of the curtain orchestrated by the master of ceremonies Christian Prudhomme (director of the Tour de France), the two friends try a sleight of hand by packing their trunks alone, in the Ballon...d'Alsace.A waste of time... In the descent, they reappear in the eyes of their adversaries and are immediately left behind. Thank you gentlemen for this issue!A few hectometres later, a group of about twenty units forms at the front. We find there in particular Izagirre and Zingle (Cofidis), the other great attacker of this Tour Neilands (Israel-Premier Tech), Van Gils (Lotto-Dstny) and Barguil (Arkéa-Samsic). The pace is steady at the front as well as at the head of the peloton, no one is there to put on pearls!The Col de la Croix des Moinats makes it possible to make a new selection at the front, where only 6 riders play the leading roles: Barguil, Neilands, Van Gils are celebrating!In this stage, another runner is on a mission. Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) is taking part in his last Tour de France and the Franc-Comtois is riding today at home. He knows these roads by heart. In the most demanding percentages of this difficulty, revolted, over-motivated, transcended, he leaves the peloton and returns alone to the breakaway. A tiger ready to roar!No time to take a breather, no intermission is offered to the artists of this 110 e...

This Tour de France definitely has many surprises in store... Although the riders are tired after 18 very demanding stages, they continue to put on a show of rare intensity. Several of them are determined to lead a last stand and try to isolate themselves. Among them, we obviously find Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny), Zingle and Coquard (Cofidis), Neilands (Israel-Premier Tech). However, the good shot does not seem to have been formed, too many teams wishing to win in this 100% Jura stage.Finally, after more than 60 kilometers of struggle, the race settles after the intermediate sprint and sees a group of some 36 riders get out of the peloton: Barguil (Arkéa-Samsic), Houle, Neilands, Strong and Clarke (Israel -Premier Tech), Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny), Izagirre (Cofidis) in particular.Particularly discreet so far, the Australian Simon Clarke has ants in his legs and launches an offensive 60 kilometers from the finish, accompanied by the inevitable "Campi". "Aerodinamic..a" and well placed on their machines, the two adventurers deliver an effective choreography but cramps stop Clarke 28 kilometers further. A few hectometres later, in the last "repecho" of the day, Campenaerts was taken over by a trio of fugitives who "jo...ured" the victory to Poligny. Behind, although to their advantage Strong and Barguil will not be able to defend their luck, victims of a fall for one and mechanical trouble for the other.Distinction rarely awarded two days in a row to the same rider, the prize for combativeness is still awarded to Campenaerts for all of his work!Photo credits: Sprint Cycling and Sirotti

The queen stage was very difficult for many riders. While Simon Geschke (Cofidis) suffered from the first kilometers of the Col des Saisies, Victor Lafay was part of the first group of breakaways. He is joined by Guillaume Martin in the same pass. Neilands (Israel Premier-Tech) and Champoussin (Arkéa-Samsic) also take the wheel of the first breakaways. After the descent, Alaphilippe, Ciccone and Neilands make up the trio of fugitives. The latter garnered the 17 points of the intermediate sprint. Going up to the Cormet de Roselend, 35 runners are at the front. Among them, Houle, Schultz and Neilands (Israel Premier-Tech), Champoussin and Guglielmi (Arkéa-Samsic). Approaching the summit, Neilands unfortunately did not manage to hold the leading group. In the terrible ascent of the Col de la Loze, Guillaume (Cofidis) held on for a long time before continuing at his own pace. He achieved a good stage by finishing 14th, a handful of seconds behind the French champion Valentin Madouas. In the general classification, he is in eleventh place. Note the presence of Barguil (Arkéa-Samsic) in the top 20 of the day and the 23rd place of Nick Schultz, a few seconds ahead of Pogacar!

Several breakaway attempts take place during the first 30 kilometres. None manage to form.1 km from the top of the first difficulty (Col des Fleuris), Woods, Neilands, Houle and Barguil connect with the breakaway of 26 riders.Lutsenko and Alaphilippe break away.At 130 kms from the finish, the duo have a 45" lead.33 riders make up the chasing group. Among them: Martin, and Izaguirre for Cofidis, Woods, Teuns, Houle, Neilands for Israel Premier Tech, Barguil and Guglielmi for Arkéa-Samsic.km 105. 35 runners escaped.6'45" ahead of the peloton.In the ascent of the Col de la Croix de Fry, Teuns and Woods (IPT) stall...Van Aert attacks 400m from the summit of the Aravis. Krists Neilands takes his wheel and holds on!Less than 37 km, boom! Neilands falls on the descent.He bumps into a wall. Stunned, he let the fight for the win slip away, but very fortunately he set off again and finished the stage.A few minutes later, Martin goes straight. Without gravity.There are twelve kms left, Hugo Houle inserts himself between the pursuers and the leading trio. It will be taken back.Guillaume Martin takes a good seventh place, the two riders of the Arkéa-Samsic formation, Guglielmi and Barguil, finish ninth and tenth. Teuns and Houle are eleventh and thirteenth.In the general classification, Guillaume is now tenth, a handful of seconds behind Gaudu. Step by step...

Geschke (Cofidis) shows up at km0.Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny) tries again... it's short-lived.Massive crash 146 km from the finish. 40 runners on the ground. Stopping the race. Coquard and Izagirre (Cofidis), Van Gils (Lotto-Dstny) as well as Warren Barguil (Arkéa-Samsic) are down. They will all leave.Second start behind the race director after a 30-minute break.In the middle of the first difficulty: Krists Neilands (Israel Premier Tech), Alaphilippe, Van den Berg form a trio of breakaways. They are joined by Martinez and Lutsenko. Geschke counterattack...to make the connection.A group of 20 runners forms for the benefit of the descent. Among them, Houle and Neilands (IPT), Geschke... the fugitives have 45" at the foot of the Col de Cou. Champoussin (Arkéa-Samsic) is back in the breakaway!Pérez brings Martin (Cofidis) back to the leading group. 2 kms from the summit, Woods (Israel Premier Tech) leaves the peloton to join his two teammates.In the Col du Feu (climbed for the first time on the TDF), Woods is in the company of Pinot and Ciccone, Landa and Aranburu. Woods passes the summit in second position behind a concentrated and determined Italian rider. Michael scores 8 points.In the descent, they are 6, Woods is there.The peloton does not leave more than 30 seconds to the breakaway. There are 70 kms to go...they are eleven in the lead: Martin, Houle, Woods are at the foot of the Col de la RamazCol de la Ramaz: the Ciccone and Woods duel, second act. The peloton comes back to the pursuers 10 km from the summit. The Italian and the Canadian only have a 17" lead, a gap which is rapidly shrinking. Woods does not insist, Ciccone tries desperately to resist. He rejoins a pel...

On the program today: a flat profile in the magnificent department of Ain with a steep climb to finish.The first kilometers are the scene of several breakaway attempts. Customary to the fact, Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny) goes out at km 0, without any real success. We see a brief moment Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) who does not fail to get noticed with the very successful "blue white red" livery of his AR14 helmet. 19 cyclists manage to form a group. There are 110 kilometers left. Among them, three Ekoï riders: Maxim Van Gils (Lotto-Dstny), Hugo Houle (Israel Premier-Tech) and Luca Mozzato (Arkéa-Samsic). At the bottom of the "Giant of Bugey", the fugitives have a little less than 4 minutes in advance... The start of the ascent hurts. The young Van Gils is still in the game in the quartet of survivors. If he lets today winner pass 10 km from the summit, he will still resist until the end when the yellow jersey peloton returns to clinch a good second place! A small satisfaction for the Belgian formation which loses its sprinter with the abandonment of Caleb Ewan.Guillaume Martin is 15th overall.

When he crosses the finish line alone, the Basque runner from the Cofidis team is particularly moved. Back to the film of the race. From the first kilometers, several runners try to get out. In vain.When a solid leading group finally formed (120 km from the finish), Izaguirre and Martin (Cofidis) were present, as were Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny) and Dylan Teuns (Israel Premier-Tech) At km 80, it's finally the right breakaway and the Martin/Izaguirre duo is part of it. The attacks will then follow one another to dynamite the race, without success.Ion took advantage of the last difficulty of the day and then decided to set off...alone, 31 kilometers from the line! He has a 25 second lead at the top of the last bump. Boosted, Ion crushes the pedals and widens the gap. His lead grew thanks to the misunderstanding of his pursuers on the one hand and thanks to the presence of his teammate (Guillaume) in the group on the other. This one drives wisely and works for discord. A solo victory won that rewards great teamwork! Note the 7th place of G.Martin who goes up to 13th place in the general classification; the 8th by Dylan Teuns and the 10th by Victor Campenaerts.

New breakaway at kilometer 0. This consists of a trio in which we find Mathis Louvel for Arkéa-Samsic, accompanied by Daniel Oss and Andrey Amador. The fugitives widen the gap, which will reach 3 minutes and 20 seconds. At km 109, Philipsen and Coquard are fighting for fourth place in the intermediate sprint. The Belgian is the strongest. At 53 kilometers from the finish, Mathis rejoins the peloton after more than 120 terminals passed at the front. The victory is then decided in the sprint: fifth sprint and fifth TOP10 for Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) who takes a good 4th place. He declared, lucid: “Given the positioning I had per kilometer, 4th is well paid!” Note the 7th place of the Italian rider Luca Mozzato (Arkéa-Samsic), author a few days ago of a top 4 in Bordeaux (stage 7). © photo credit Sirott

By gleaning 20 points again today during the intermediate sprint, the resident of the Cofidis formation, Bryan Coquard, consolidates his second place in the ranking of the green jersey. With 104 points, he is in ambush, 46 points behind Philipsen. Cofidis still with the climber Guillaume Martin, who entered the top 20. He now points to 17th place in the general classification. About the stage, he says: “It was a very difficult stage again and we expected it with the ascent of the three legendary passes. (...) There was a big 'skimming' from the ascent of the Tourmalet. I hung on until the final climb (...) After my two frustrating stages in the mountains, I'm happy to be in the game and not to be too off the track in the general classification” To be continued…

Bryan Coquard (COFIDIS) slipped into the first breakaway of the day with one objective in mind: to win the intermediate sprint. Mission accomplished at kilometer 48, he was the fastest and collected 20 points. With 84 points, he is now a solid runner-up to Philipsen.  Belgian Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny) broke away with Van Aert and Mads Pedersen. They were caught less than 3 kilometers from the top of the Col de Soudet.  Israel Premier-Tech rider Krists Neilands briefly went it alone on the Col d'Ichère.

A fine day for the Ekoï riders yesterday marked by a new breakaway and a hard sprint.85 km from the finish, Anthony Delaplace (Arkéa-Samsic) takes the lead with B.Cosnefroy. Taken back 25 km from the line, the duo rejoins a peloton in working order to compete in the massive sprint on the Nogaro circuit. Sprint that the explosive Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Dstny) just misses, beaten only by half a wheel by Philipsen.Note a promising fourth place from Bryan Coquard. The Cofidis sprinter is gaining momentum! To be continued...

After showing himself particularly to his advantage yesterday by being the only one to resist the Pogacar-Vingegaard duel, Victor Lafay won * 24 hours later in San Sebastian. On a steep and tricky course due to light rain during part of the second stage of the Tour France, he got out of a group of 25 riders less than 900 meters from the line. He surprised the big favorite Wout Van Aert and offered the Cofidis team a resounding victory (15 years after Sylvain Chavanel's last success) and adorned himself with the green jersey...

Saint Quentin is the place to Benjamin Thomas. Whether in the Aisne or in the Yvelines, the Cofidis cyclistmasters the solo exercise... After his double title of Champion of France on the track won in January, the Tarnais imposes himself on the occasion of the time trial of the northern event. The 16 kilometers of the race allowed him to widen a significant gap on his adversaries and to land at the head of the general classification. The Cofidis team has demonstrated impressive collective strength since the start of the season, winning 11 victories with 7 different riders!Photo credit: Guetty Image

Valentine Fortin is really confident during this stage race. Already winner of the 2nd stage, the Northern formation sprinter achieves a 'double' during an uphill finish in the last 300 meters. Also note the beautiful 3rd place of Martina Alzini. As the biggest races of the season approach, the lights are green for the red and white team. Photo credit: Lisa Guerin

Already the winner in the sprint of the first stage of this Région Pays de la Loire Tour, the resident of the COFIDIS formation is again mounted on his lugs to clinch the victory of this 3rd stage. Uncertain after his fall (2nd stage), Coquard succeeded in his final assault thanks to a judicious glance: "I took the last roundabout on the right because we were not obliged to brake on this side. The rest went flawlessly." Note the work of Davide Cimolai, once again perfect in his role as pitcher. In the general classification, the Frenchman is ahead, at this stage, of the Dutchman Van den Berg and the Dane A.Kamp. C: CAMENB'R

We left Bryan Coquard on two promising 2nd places during the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya and a 5th on the Route Adélie de Vitré. We find him proud as "a Rooster" after his 50th victory among the professionals, during the first stage of the Tour des Pays de la Loire (formerly the Circuit de la Sarthe). Well led by his teammates and in particular Davide Cimolaï, the French sprinter squirted 200 m from the line, won with astonishing ease and put on the leader's purple jersey. Something to sing about in a good...happiness!Photo credit: Getty Images

On the course of the 23rd edition of Classic Loire-Atlantique taking place in La Haye-Fouassière (on the circuit which saw Warren Barguil crowned as French Champion in 2019), the Cofidis riders are in conquered territory. We left Anthony Perez in dazzling form during his victory over the Drôme Classic and here is the 2022 winner of the Nantes event, particularly in the legs (2nd the day after Cholet Pays de la Loire). In a nervous race where the sprint seemed inevitable, he took control of the peloton and perfectly led the promising Axel Zingle who won with a bike ahead of the rest of the pack. 5th victory this season for the team led by Cédric Vasseur!

Epic ! In this last weekend of February, the Drôme looked like a Belgian classic: a hilly course with no less than 20 climbs, gusts of wind to send any featherweight climber into the background and borders at all costs ! In these conditions, you had to be a warrior to find yourself 38 km from the finish at the head of the race, in a group of 16 riders. Among them, 4 men from Cofidis: Martin, Fine, Lafay and Perez. After two banderillas planted by Guillaume Martin on the penultimate ascent of the day, Anthony plays teamwork and tries his luck with incredible panache. Behind, Gaudu, Alaphilippe or even Bardet look at each other and let him go. He digs a gap of more than a minute and will never be caught! A sublime solo victory at the top of a final climb, but with the "Mistral Gagnant"!

If Jesus Herrada collapses after crossing the line, it's because he spared no effort to let go of his opponents in the bumpy final the Tour of Oman second stage. A stage with 2highlights: First, the attempt (ultimately vain) of the duo Van Boven / Fuentes to give way to the breakaway group. On the other hand, the return of the peloton at 6 kms and especially the final sprint towards Qurayyat (2.5 kms at 7.4%) at the end of which the Spanish sprinter from the COFIDIS formation proved to be the most explosive, outclassing his rivals in the last few meters before crossing the finish line alone, arms outstretched!

A few days after 3rd place in his German teammate Max Walscheid, during the 1st stage of the Saudi Tour, Simone Constonni decided to make ''the powder speak'' and to be at the top in the most beautiful ways. In a worthy landscape  of the Quantum of Solace sets, the Italian sprinter thwarts all the plans of the Jayco-Alula team. Yet well brought by cadence, Dylan Groenewegen finds himself, , locked up at first. Launching his sprint more than 200 meters from the line,  between 5 and 7%, the "flying Dutchman" is ultimately exceeded 75 meters from the goal by Consonni who, to the tears, crosses the line in front of a Other Transalpin Mattéo Malucelli. Hostilities should not be launched too early in this sprint for strong!

First victory in the World Tour of Bryan Coquard. The fourth stage of the TDU has, as planned, played the sprint. And it was the French sprinter of the Cofidis team that has been the clearest. 300 meters from the line, he lit the wick, surprising his helpless rivals and unable to jump into the wheel. A tasty victory for the one who had on seven times had to be satisfied with second places, one, a legendary, against Marcel Kittel on the fourth stage of the 2016 Tour de France. This time, in Australia, photo-finish was not necessary. C: Getty Images

After long months waiting, it is this Thursday, October 27th on ASO has just unveiled the official route of the Men's and Women's Tour de France. From Spain via the Puy de Dôme, the highest volcano in Auvergne, a mythical place for cycling where Poulidor and Anquetil crossed swords. 5 mountain ranges will be crossed during these 3 weeks.

Bryan Coquard finished in style this Sunday by winning the 50th edition of the Tour de Vendée. Last race of the French Cup, the Cofidis rider won for the second time this year after having won a stage in the Tour de Provence. Axel Zingle won the Famene Ardenne Classic the same day. It was his third win of the season and the 18th victory for the team in 2022. C: Getty Images