Published on : 12/20/2022
For one week, the Cofidis teams (UCI World Tour, women's and disabled) met in Denia, Spain. Objective: to get together after the autumn break, to get back into the swing of things and launch the new season with enthusiasm and ambition.
Smiles that warm hearts, hugs and kisses that remind us of the bonds that unite the team. From Monday, December 12 to Tuesday, December 20, the 49 riders of the Cofidis team met at the Marriott La Sella Golf Resort & Spa in Denia, Spain, just like last season.
After a particularly prolific last season, marked by a 10th place finish in the UCI World Tour rankings (19 victories in the men's race, 1 in the women's race and 26 in the para-cycling team), the riders returned to the joys of the road as a team. Samuel Bellenoue, in charge of performance, had concocted an intensive program throughout the week.
It was also an opportunity to integrate newcomers Jonathan Lastra, Christophe Noppe, Axel Mariault and Harrison Wood into the team. The girls were equally enthusiastic before starting the second season of their team's history. Last to join the team, Séverine Eraud, coming from Stade Rochelais, was warmly welcomed by her new teammates. She is one of the new recruits, along with Morgane Coston from France, Spela Kern from Slovenia and Josie Talbot from Australia.
The handisport section has two new faces in its ranks: Alexandre Lloveras and Maxime Gressier (tandem). More than ever, they will be in battle order 18 months before the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
After this beautiful week of cohesion, the runners will be back with their families to spend the end of the year holidays. And in a few days, the season will start with the two Australian races and the will to start the year as the previous one: by signing beautiful victories.
THEY SAID
Guillaume Martin: "The course went really well. It is always an important moment to launch the season. We took advantage of the weather conditions we were expecting, to ride more than thirty hours this week. The atmosphere was great: it was also an opportunity to get together with the different Cofidis teams (men's, women's and disabled), which doesn't happen often during the year. We worked well on the bike and had a good time outside. From now on, I will continue training, keep in shape and progress gradually until my recovery."
THE PROGRAM
Friday, January 6th
Press conference in Paris in the morning
Presentation evening in Tourcoing
From Tuesday 10 to Friday 20 January
Training course in Calpe (Spain)
From January 17th to 22nd
Santos Tour Down Under (Australia)
Sunday January 29th
Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race (Australia)
Grand Prix de la Marseillaise
Trofeo de Palma