Published on : 04/03/2026
Clément Izquierdo and Jenthe Biermans finished 7th and 10th respectively at the Route Adélie. A result that confirms their current good form, but also leaves a sense that more was possible given the team’s attacking mindset, as they once again gave everything in Vitré.
The race conditions in Vitré were a far cry from recent sunny editions. This time, rain gear was essential at the foot of the ramparts that make the Breton town so iconic. Like in the recent Coupe de France rounds, the team raced with heart and intent.
A four-man breakaway quickly formed, as is often the case at the Route Adélie, while the peloton controlled behind. Things really heated up in the final hour as the laps ticked by. In brutal conditions, with riders visibly worn down by the weather, Cofidis moved to the front of the peloton. Sam Maisonobe, Benjamin Thomas, Nicolas Debeaumarché and Louis Rouland all played their part with relentless work on the front. The repeated ascent of the Côte de la Chesnelière, with gradients up to 8% taken at a high pace, gradually thinned the group from the back.
Clément Izquierdo and Valentin Ferron both tried to make a move, but the circuit’s only listed climb proved too short to create decisive gaps. With less than ten kilometers to go, after one final attack from the Provençal rider, it became clear that this 2026 edition would come down to a bunch sprint—rather than the reduced group the team had hoped for.
The sprint itself was made even more dangerous by the run-in and the weather conditions. At the front of a very tense peloton, charging at over 60 km/h down the descent into Vitré, Jenthe Biermans and Clément Izquierdo tried to position themselves as best they could. Izquierdo found himself leading with 200 meters to go—too early on a finish that usually rewards the rider who launches at just the right moment. In the end, both riders secured top-10 finishes: 7th for Clément and 10th for Jenthe. A frustrating outcome, but the team’s aggressive and collective approach suggests that a breakthrough result is just around the corner.
Reaction from Edvaldas Šiškevičius:
“The weather was very tough, and the wind also played a big role on this small circuit. The initial plan was to make the race harder in the final to set up a reduced sprint for Jenthe. That’s what we tried to do, but without much success—except in the last lap where we managed to create a small split. In the end, though, it came back together. The guys didn’t find themselves in the positions they wanted in the finale. Clément finished 7th, Jenthe 10th. We were hoping for better, of course, but it’s consistent with what we’ve been showing in the recent Coupe de France races. We have a strong team that is always up there and actively shaping the race.”