Published on : 06/27/2026
In scorching heat, with temperatures reaching 38°C on the course, the Cofidis women’s team lined up at the French National Championships with strong ambitions. On a demanding 16.3 km circuit to be covered six times around La Tour-du-Pin, featuring the climbs of Saint-Roch and the Mur de Béjuy as the main difficulties, the race promised to be selective and suited to the strongest riders.
The team anticipated the race scenario perfectly by placing Victoire Berteau and Valentine Fortin in an early breakaway group of 12 riders. It proved to be the right move, as only the main favourites managed to bridge across to the front group over the following kilometres.
The race then became harder lap after lap, with the decisive selection taking place on the Mur de Béjuy. Valentine Fortin eventually dropped back with 45 kilometres to go. Victoire Berteau, French champion in 2023, held on to the favourites’ group for as long as possible, managing to fight her way back several times before finally losing contact in the closing kilometres.
Worn down by the heat and the intensity of the race, the riders crossed the finish line one by one. In only her third race since returning from injury, Victoire Berteau secured a strong 10th place finish.
This marks Victoire Berteau’s fifth consecutive top-10 finish at the French National Championships.
Reaction:
Gaetan Lemoine, sporting director:
"A race that got underway at a very fast pace, with a breakaway of around ten riders including Victoire Berteau and Valentine Fortin. One of the finest French National Championships we've seen in recent years, with a great battle between the breakaway and the peloton. Valentine worked hard at the front alongside the other teams to try to stay away as long as possible and keep the main favourite, Célia Géry, at a distance. Unfortunately, she was simply in a class of her own and managed to come back across with her teammates. From that point on, it was a true bike race, incredibly tough, made even harder by the heat and the course. I take my hat off to all the girls because racing in those conditions was no gift. We come away with a top 10 for Victoire, an athlete who not long ago was returning from injury. That's very encouraging for what lies ahead. The team rode in service of one rider to go for the jersey, it wasn't meant to be this year, but we'll be back."
