Published on : 03/31/2026
A rolling and fast-paced race around Livarot, Paris-Camembert featured a demanding course, with a succession of climbs and a final circuit well suited to attacks. A perfect terrain for puncheurs and for an animated race.
The race came alive with a breakaway of five riders, gaining up to two minutes, before the peloton accelerated on the Côte des Champeaux. Very active, Benjamin Thomas went on the attack with 36 kilometres to go and claimed the King of the Mountains classification. Approaching the final circuit, Cofidis placed two riders at the front, with Benjamin Thomas and Valentin Ferron in a group of six fighting for the win. Ferron launched an attack with 3 km to go, caught under the flamme rouge, before Thomas counter-attacked. Despite their efforts, the two riders ultimately had to settle for 5th and 6th places.
Sports director reaction: Evaldas Šiškevičius
“We once again delivered a strong collective performance, but the result is disappointing. Nicolas Debeaumarché did a big job controlling behind the breakaway, then Paul Ourselin positioned the team perfectly at key moments.
In the final, we managed to have two riders at the front with Benjamin Thomas and Valentin Ferron, a former winner of Paris-Camembert. They were in the right move, we had the numerical advantage, but we didn’t manage to make the most of it to make the difference.
They tried, attacked, but we were just missing a little something to go all the way. Behind them, Bryan Coquard won the sprint from the peloton.
There are positives to take, but we still need a few adjustments to turn it into results.”
