Published on : 03/15/2026
Paris-Nice 2026: a brilliant week for the Cofidis team!Building on a particularly exciting start to the season, the Cofidis team showed determination and enthusiasm throughout the week. Ion Izagirre finished 7th in the general classification and the team secured numerous podium places at the end of the stages (Fretin 4th last Sunday, Coquard 4th on Friday). Above all, the solidarity and cohesion shown by the riders demonstrate just how much the team continues to foster a positive dynamic.
A real team spirit
You have to see the little details that say it all: the riders finding each other at the finish line and high-fiving, the little pats on the back, the words of thanks. The Cofidis team showed incredible solidarity throughout the week. Tuesday’s team time trial set the tone: even though it wasn’t their favourite discipline, the riders gave it their all, clocking a more than promising time (10th). Two days later, on the roads leading to Apt, it took the self-sacrifice of every Cofidis rider to allow the peloton to catch the breakaway. It was a strategy that almost paid off: at the finish, Bryan Coquard took 4th place in a stage where Cofidis had been a prominent presence from start to finish.
Ion Izagirre, a well-deserved reward
On Thursday, in the tortuous final stretch leading to Colombier-le-Vieux, he managed to slip through the ranks of the favourites and secure an impressive 7th place. Ion Izagirre took the opportunity to break into the top 10 of the general classification, a position he held until Sunday. He thus finished 20th in this year’s Paris-Nice. A remarkable achievement for the 37-year-old Basque rider, the team’s linchpin in the general classification and a natural leader thanks to his experience and expertise. Ion has distinguished himself as much for his ability to rally the team around him as for his ability to step up whenever circumstances demanded it. He can now look forward with ambition and enthusiasm to his next goal: the Tour of the Basque Country, where he will do everything in his power to shine once again.
In the sprint, the team rose to the occasion
Because they are competitors through and through, there is inevitably a touch of disappointment at the results of the first two days. Admittedly, Milan Fretin finished 4th in the first stage and Bryan Coquard 12th in the second. But both knew they had the talent to win, particularly on Monday in Montargis, where Milan was unfortunately held up in the final sprint. In any case, the Cofidis team has shown that they will be a force to be reckoned with in the sprints throughout the season, which bodes well for the future.
QUOTES :
Ion Izagirre, 7th in the general classification
"Paris-Nice is a special race for me, I have very good memories here. Finishing in the top 10 of the general classification with the level of riders that were here, that's a great performance. I knew before coming that I was in good shape but you never know if you can compete with the best riders in the world. My feelings were very good and it definitely makes you want to look ahead. Now I'm heading to a training camp in Spain to prepare as well as possible with Alex Aranburu before the Tour of the Basque Country. The level will be very high again, it will be very hard to win but we'll give everything!"
Raphaël Jeune, Cofidis general manager
"It was truly an incredible week. Our riders and all the staff members showed an exemplary mindset and total commitment. As a team, we were flawless: we finished in the top 15 of every stage and Ion Izagirre delivered a top-level performance in the general classification (7th). The biggest takeaway from this Paris-Nice is that we have proved we are more than ever capable of winning at WorldTour level. That's all the more remarkable given how high the standard was. It was our first major race in this new jersey and it gives us great momentum. We will now look ahead to the upcoming races in Belgium, France and Italy, with the same motivation and the same mindset to keep the ball rolling."
