Published on : 10/18/2026
In Japan, Sam Maisonobe secured an impressive 7th-place finish at the Utsunomiya Japan Cup Road Race. At the end of a fast-paced and particularly demanding race, the Cofidis rider fought for a spot on the podium, while Louis Rouland set the pace early on.
The race quickly took an aggressive turn with a breakaway of about fifteen riders forming as early as the second lap, after about twenty kilometers. Louis Rouland was in that group, which included several of the top European teams. The gap grew to two minutes and thirty seconds before the peloton gradually picked up the pace.
At the halfway point, the attacks became more frequent, and the field began to thin out as the riders faced the tough sections. With strong support for Sam Maisonobe, the Cofidis team managed to keep pace in this race of attrition, where leg strength made all the difference. About thirty kilometers from the finish, Quinn Simmons and Ben Healy broke away to battle for the win.
Behind the two leaders, Sam Maisonobe held his ground in a chasing group. He ultimately finished 7th after a sprint for third place, confirming his ability to compete in a challenging finish.
With Sam Maisonobe in the Top 10, Louis Rouland at the front from the very first kilometers, and the entire team working together throughout the race, Cofidis leaves Japan with a positive result in this demanding classic.
The reaction
Sébastien Demarbaix, sport director :
“Sam sprinted for third place with a small group. Unfortunately, he was the last in his group, but he finished seventh. We should also highlight Louis’s excellent race—he broke away right from the start and still managed to finish in the first group behind Sam’s chasing group. The whole team worked very well together. I think we can look back on today’s race with more than just satisfaction.”