Published on : 02/20/2026
In particularly good form since the start of the season, the Belgian rider won the Ruta del Sol. He managed to sneak through the sprint and hold off the competition to take a hard-fought victory. This is the sixth win of his career and the second for Cofidis this year. A great reward for the whole team's strong start to the season.
He had come so close to victory so many times this season that this win, achieved under the Andalusian sun, is even sweeter. Milan Fretin finished second in the first stage of the AlUla Tour, then in the Clásica de Almería. This time, it was his turn to shine. After a particularly well-managed team effort between Jaén and Lopera (180.9 km), the Belgian rider positioned himself well at the end of the stage.
Already a second win for Cofidis
On a steep finish and narrow road, it took a particularly clever rider to fight his way to victory. Facing him, Paul Penhoet and Christophe Laporte gave it their all before conceding at the line. Milan then let his joy explode before being congratulated by all his teammates. Among them was Alex Aranburu, who took 6th place, having already finished 3rd yesterday.
Milan thus gave Cofidis its second victory of the season, just 20 days after Bryan Coquard's win at the GP de la Marseillaise. The Belgian sprinter continues to go from strength to strength, having won six times in his professional career. He confirms the Cofidis team's outstanding form at the start of the season. And the year has only just begun!
La réaction
Milan Fretin : " It's not easy. I turned the last 500 meters. I think I turned in the fifth position. I lost a little bit my momentum, a little bit the speed. So at the end it was a really close one but I'm super happy I take the victory. For a moment I thought I was beaten because I lost all my momentum on the right side. But the last 80 meters I think I was the strongest and I hold on the longest. So that's how it was to win. I’m super happy. The first victory of the season. So it's an important one to take the victory.
it confirms that the shape is really good. Training camp together with Alex Kirsch and I think I did a little bit on my shape as well. So, yeah, of course, the first two days here were very hard with the big, big mountains. It was an hour of climbs every time. Today was an opportunity, but still it was a very hard stage. And then tomorrow will be another opportunity for me. So let's focus.
The season that we had, we also ride different. We really show that we are not scared of the other teams. And also today we controlled the race. And this we want to show everybody that we made a difference in the team. And I think we, yeah, for now we're doing everything perfect."
