Published on : 03/12/2026
There is a striking contrast in Louis Rouland, who is currently competing in his first Paris-Nice. On the one hand, he is cheerful, relaxed and easy to get along with in a group. But as soon as he gets on his bike, he is a determined, relentless rider, ready to give his all to meet the team's expectations. The Le Mans native, who lives in Aix-les-Bains, showed great promise in the Tour of Oman, finishing 10th overall. And he promises that this is only the beginning!
My passion for cycling : "I've always loved it! My family did it and I really enjoyed watching the races. Before I started, I did swimming, handball and athletics, but cycling has always been my favourite sport. In the junior categories, I wasn't necessarily among the best, but I always enjoyed doing it and improving! Being a professional was initially a dream, but gradually it became an increasingly realistic goal."
My love of racing : ‘What drives me most is competition. If there weren't so much of it, I don't know if I'd cycle. I enjoy training, but what I love is competing in races and giving it my all!’
My integration at Cofidis : ‘It's going really well! I got to meet everyone in December during the pre-season training camp. The other training camps in January and my first races (in Spain and Oman) helped me feel at home in the team. I'm still finding my feet, but I feel good in the team.’
My goal for Paris-Nice : ‘The main goal will be to discover the race. It's my first Paris-Nice! I'll do everything I can to help the team as much as possible. The tougher stages will be a good opportunity to test myself against some very strong competition.’
My activities outside of cycling : "There are things I like, but I wouldn't say I have any great passions. I like simple things. When the nice weather returns to Aix-les-Bains, for example, I like to spend an afternoon by the lake. I watch a few TV series and I also really enjoy cooking when I'm at home!"
My favourite place to train : "At home in Aix-les-Bains, without a doubt! It's a bit rough in winter, but it's very nice in summer when the weather is good. The roads aren't dangerous, there isn't much traffic and the scenery is magnificent. There's Lake Bourget, the mountains... And then there are quite a few runners who live there, we're a great group!"
