Published on : 07/17/2026
The 13th stage of the Tour de France favored breakaways, and many riders in the peloton had marked this stage—which passed through the Ballon d’Alsace—on their calendars. The Cofidis team was well represented with three riders at the front.
Once again, Team Cofidis was on the attack during the 13th stage of the Tour de France between Dole and Belfort on Friday, July 17, 2026. While Alex Kirsch was one of the first to attack that day, it was ultimately a trio from northern France—comprising Ion Izagirre, Benjamin Thomas, and Alex Aranburu—that managed to break away in a breakaway that grew to include as many as 57 riders. This group of 57 riders was the result of a long chase between an initial breakaway of about 30 riders and a large chasing group. The long chase and the frantic pace of the race took their toll, and the riders’ legs eventually gave out on the climb up the Ballon d’Alsace.
The reaction
Ion Izagirre, 18th on the day and the first Cofidis rider: “It was another tough and fast stage. It wasn’t easy to make the breakaway. We managed to get three guys out front: Benjamin Thomas, Alex Aranburu, and myself. Behind us, it was never quiet, with a large chasing group that eventually caught up to us. Then, on the climb up the Ballon d’Alsace, our legs took over.”