Published on : 08/30/2026
What a week! An hour before Alex Aranburu’s triumph in Plouay, Victoire Berteau had also raised her arms in victory. Less than two months after her crash at the Tour of Portugal, she’s back on the winner’s podium and rewarding the hard work of the entire women’s team. Nadia Quagliotto finished 2nd in the stage, and Victoire took 3rd place in the overall standings.
It’s a week that will be remembered for a long time. A week when hard work and sacrifice finally paid off and hope turned into victory. First, there was Milan Fretin, who paved the way—twice—by winning the Tour du Poitou-Charentes. Then came Bryan Coquard on Saturday and Alex Aranburu on Sunday.
Victoire Berteau Confirms
The women’s team, competing in the Tour of Tuscany, was not to be outdone. Martina Alzini was the first to shine, winning the sprint ahead of Nadia Quagliotto. In her wake, the message was clear: continue to be key players in the race right to the finish. The Cofidis riders got the message loud and clear.
This afternoon, the entire team was once again in full force. And while Nadia once again took second place, it was Victoire Berteau who raised her arms in victory. The former French champion is proving she’s back in business, having won the Tour of Portugal in July. She brings the women’s team’s total number of victories to 9—a record never before achieved since the team’s creation in 2021.
Reactions:
Victoire Berteau :
« There’s a lot of satisfaction and a whole mix of emotions, as you’d expect. I’m so happy about my second return to competition after my crash at the Tour of Portugal. It’s been a long battle to get back to racing, and I want to thank the entire staff for supporting me every step of the way. Today, the field was whittled down with two laps to go. Nadia and I broke away; she attacked first, which put me in a great position for the final stretch. Being the two of us out front was the ideal scenario. We were really determined to shine, and we knew we had what it takes to make it happen. I want to thank all my teammates and the staff—they so deserve to enjoy this wonderful week! »
Gaëtan Lemoine, sports director : « This is our second one-two finish, this time with Victoire and Nadia. We were a little out for redemption after yesterday’s stage; the girls were determined to bounce back. It was a long day with four hours of racing, but they handled it calmly. With two kilometers to go, a group of seven broke away, including Nadia and Victoire. They were the two fastest in the group—they knew it—and they handled the finish very well. We can’t help but be satisfied with this Tour of Tuscany, especially since Victoire finished third overall. There’s certainly a lot to be happy about. The girls and the staff can be proud! »
