Published on : 03/23/2026
At lunchtime, the Cofidis team takes a moment to chat with the people who make up the team. With ‘A l'abri du vent’, we put the race aside for a few minutes to listen and take our time. Today, let’s meet Milan Fretin.
How did your sporting career begin?
I actually come from a triathlon background. I competed in triathlons for about ten years, reaching a fairly high level. Before turning professional in cycling, I spent a long time competing in the combined disciplines.
Cycling has always been part of my training, as it’s an essential component of triathlon, but for a long time I focused mainly on swimming and running, which were my weak points. Paradoxically, I had never really developed my cycling to its full potential.
Three years ago, I decided to devote myself solely to road cycling. I was feeling a bit jaded with swimming and running, whereas cycling remained what I was most passionate about.
When did you realise that cycling would become your career?
Very early on. For me, there was never really any doubt.
When I was ten or twelve, my friends were playing football, but I was already focused on cycling. It was the only thing that mattered. Even at school, in my mind, cycling came first.
I knew that if I wanted to succeed, I had to make choices, avoid unnecessary risks and stay focused.
Today, I’m glad I followed that path and managed to turn my passion into a career.
Are there any runners or people who have inspired you?
When I was a child, I didn’t watch the races much; I found them too long. But certain names stuck in my mind.
I admired Tom Boonen and Fabian Cancellara, even though they were very different.
Later on, riders like Chris Froome and Alberto Contador also impressed me.
But I never had a single idol. What inspired me was cycling as a whole, the standard of the professionals.
What moment marked a turning point in your career?
A key moment was signing my contract with Cofidis.
Before that, I was already part of a development programme, but I wanted to reach the highest level as quickly as possible.
Signing with a WorldTour team was a real turning point for me. It was a form of validation, but also a relief. From then on, I was able to focus entirely on my performance.
How do you manage the balance between your personal life and cycling?
It’s essential not to think only about cycling.
I’m very professional when it comes to training, but outside of that, I need to switch off. I spend time playing video games with my friends or my brother. Whenever I get the chance, I go fishing.
I’m also really into cars, especially fast ones: driving them, looking after them, cleaning them… it’s one of my pleasures.
Finding that balance is important for a long-term career in this sport.