Published on : 09/15/2026
Another outburst of joy has swept through everyone who supports the Cofidis team. Last Saturday, Ion Izagirre claimed victory in Italy, combining the enthusiasm of a young rider with the experience of a seasoned veteran. This outstanding achievement brings Cofidis’ men’s tally to 14 victories this season. We are reliving the excitement of late August while looking ahead to what comes next. Because, as General Manager Raphaël Jeune promises, the team has no intention of stopping there. His thoughts as we enter the final straight.
Raphaël Jeune: “Our ambition hasn’t changed”
What is your assessment of the team’s « post-Tour de France » period, which has been marked by numerous victories?
It has been a very successful period for one simple reason: all the riders in the team – men, women and para-cyclists – have pulled together and never given up. You can see that they are all enjoying performing and playing an active role in the races. It is not always easy, of course, but they fight hard and give it everything they have. This is the momentum we want to maintain right through to the end of the season.
And this is benefiting the men’s, women’s and para-cycling riders alike…
We are one team, wearing the same jersey and sharing the same determination to fight. You can see the same synergy within each group, as well as a positive atmosphere. This is also the result of the work carried out behind the scenes by our performance department and all the sports directors. I would also like to thank all our partners for their unwavering support. We can be proud to have them alongside us, of their commitment to the team and of the trust they place in us.
“It’s about teamwork, solidarity and pushing yourself beyond your limits”
Have you been surprised by this run of success?
We know that sport is all about highs and lows and that it is anything but an exact science. But we are competitors: we all know that we could have gone on to win even more races, given the many podium finishes and places of honour in other events. We are going to take great pleasure in carrying on right through to the end!
There is just over a month of racing left. What are the team’s main objectives?
Our ambition has not changed: we want to win as many races as possible. It is about teamwork, solidarity and pushing yourself beyond your limits. I also hope that some of our riders who are in great form, such as Benjamin Thomas and Sam Maisonobe, for example, will get their rewards and raise their arms in victory. They all want to experience the same emotion as Ion Izagirre did last Saturday!
Speaking of Ion Izagirre, he will end his career at the Tour of Lombardy in mid-October. How would you describe his end to the season?
Ion is an exemplary rider, both on and off the bike. I affectionately call him “my little younger brother” because he is impeccable in every situation. Even when he has not achieved the result he was hoping for, he remains positive, always looks ahead and does everything for the team. It is a real pleasure to work with Ion every day. We are doing everything we can to ensure that he can perform at his best right through to his final race.
At the same time, you are already working with the staff to prepare for next season…
Yes, it is work that began several months ago. We have signed Michel Coppens and Valentin Madouas, two quality riders who will help us live up to our ambitions. We will do everything we can to ensure that they integrate as well as possible into the team. We are also working on the best programme to ensure that every rider is in a position to perform at their best and, in turn, proudly represent the Cofidis colours.
