Published on : 06/27/2022
With two leaders for the mountains (Ion Izagirre and Guillaume Martin), one for the sprint (Bryan Coquard), a specialist of the cobbles (Max Walscheid), of the time trial (Benjamin Thomas), two experienced riders (Simon Geschke and Anthony Perez) and a rookie who is discovering the joys of the Grande Boucle (Victor Lafay), Cofidis will do everything to shine on the Tour de France. Here is a review of the riders.
It is the big event of the year, the most awaited, the most followed and the most exciting race of the season. The Tour de France starts on Friday in Copenhagen, Denmark, and the Cofidis team will be doing everything in its power to be one of the race's great animators.
Riders to shine everywhere
The team that will be lining up is complementary, eclectic and determined to give everything. It will be supported by its two leaders, Guillaume Martin and Ion Izagirre. The rider from Normandy will ride his 6th Tour de France, having finished in the top 15 of the last three editions (12th in 2019, 11th in 2020, 8th in 2021). The Spaniard, who will participate for the first time in the colours of Cofidis, has already won the Grande Boucle, in 2016 in Morzine.
For the sprints, the team will try to do well with Bryan Coquard. Winner twice this season, the 'Coq' will not lack arguments to get involved in the massive sprints. This will also be the case for Max Walscheid on the highly anticipated cobbled stage between Lille and Arenberg on Wednesday 6 July. In 2021, the German rider had distinguished himself by taking 12th place in Paris-Roubaix and he hopes to play a leading role in this 5th stage. Another specialist, but this time in time trials, Benjamin Thomas - in his first season with Cofidis - will be able to show his talent in long breakaways and time trials.
A discovery for Lafay, a habit for Geschke
Alongside them, Victor Lafay will discover the joys of the Tour de France. The 26 year-old from Lyon has been growing in strength over the last few seasons, notably by winning a stage in the Giro d'Italia last year or by finishing 3rd of the 4th stage of Tirreno-Adriatico in March behind Tadej Pogacar. He will benefit from the experience of Simon Geschke. The German rider, who finished 3rd in his national championships yesterday, will ride his 10th Tour de France! He knows the way to victory in the Grande Boucle, having won in Pra-Loup in 2015.
Finally, the team will be able to count on the explosiveness, self-sacrifice and team spirit of Anthony Perez. The 31 year-old rider from Toulouse, who will be racing in his 5th Grande Boucle, knows all about the excitement of July. He was particularly famous on July 14th when he escaped for more than 150 km during the stage between Muret and Saint-Lary-Soulan. And he will do everything, like his team-mates, to honour his colours!
THEY SAID
Guillaume Martin:
"I am very happy to be able to put on a number in the Tour de France, for the 6th time already. It will be a very special Tour with a very tricky first week, with the risk of curbs, cobbles... I really don't want to put myself under unnecessary pressure and take risks for the general classification. The goal will be to get through this first week without any problems and if I lose a little bit of time, it's not important. We will also have to see how I have recovered from the Giro. It is a particular sequence, I have been riding two Grand Tours in a row for three years and maybe I am getting tired. After that, there will be a lot of stages which will be favourable to breakaways. The most mythical one is the Alpe d'Huez. The one of the day before is also good and I don't forget the last one in the Pyrenees which arrives at the top of Hautacam. Once we get past the first week, it will be a great playground for climbers!"
Ion Izagirre:
"Being at the Tour de France is a great feeling. It's fantastic to participate in the biggest race in the world, the most important of the season. This year I am in a French team so it will be even more special and intense for sure. With the fans at the roadside, the special atmosphere, it's always a special moment. Going to the Pyrenees is always magical for a Basque like me. We will decide in the next few days on the team's objectives. But I think that we are ready to aim for stage victories and a good place in the general classification with Guillaume.