Published on : 10/06/2026
As the end of the season draws near, one question always lingers among those who know the professional cycling circuit well: when it is all over, what remains? We think of the strongest emotions, the finest days, but also of a collection of faces — the faces of all those riders who have given their very best. Since 2022, Victoire Berteau has been one of those faces. She has embodied Cofidis through her enthusiasm, her fighting spirit and her ability to fight for others. The rider from northern France embodied Cofidis and its spirit, with a determination never to give up, even in the toughest races. As she prepares to leave the team, she looked back on this shared journey.
Victoire Berteau: ‘My five years at Cofidis’
Part of the team since its very beginnings in 2022, Victoire Berteau has experienced some of the finest moments of her career in the Cofidis jersey. As she prepares to leave the team, the rider from northern France, known for her generosity both on and off the bike, took the time to look back on the special story she has shared with Cofidis.
The day when… I decided I wanted to become a professional
September 2015
“When I arrived in Bourges at the French national training centre and realised that I could make it into the French national team. It was a big step in my career because I was moving up into the junior category. That’s when I thought: ‘Actually, I might be able to make a living from my passion.’ I’ve always loved cycling, I was riding all the time, and we used to go to races with my mum at weekends… My life revolved around cycling, even when I was younger.”
The day when… I signed my first contract with Cofidis
November 2021
“The team had just been set up, but because I was part of the French Army team, I couldn’t sign. It wasn’t until November that things were finally sorted out. Gaël Le Bellec called me to tell me it could happen. But I missed the administrative training camp! I was absolutely delighted to sign for Cofidis. It’s the team from where I’m from, from the North, from home, and they share values that I’ve always identified with. And the project was really exciting too!”
The day when… I raced for Cofidis for the first time
26 February 2022, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
“I had already spent a few years racing professionally, but this was a different level. There was the staff and the whole structure around us. I remember that we arrived two days early and did some recon rides… I have a very clear memory of it, as if it were our first day at school!”
The day when… I became French champion
24 June 2023, Cassel
“There are so many memories! The first thing that comes to mind is opening my phone after the race and seeing all the photos the girls and Arthur (Quillec) had taken at the finish! Of course, there was everything before the race, the race itself, which went exactly as planned, and then all the emotion afterwards. I remember staying quietly with Mathilde L’Azou (the team photographer) in a room while we waited for a TV crew. Then we went to a chip shop (laughs)! It really was an incredible day!”
The day when… I went on the attack in the Tour de France on my birthday
16 August 2024, Remiremont – Morteau
“I had already been in a breakaway in the Tour de France in 2022, when I finished on the podium for the first time (combativity award). In 2024, it was another long breakaway, on my birthday. People were celebrating it for me by the side of the road, which was really heartwarming. In the women’s peloton, there isn’t really such a thing as a publicity breakaway; you have to earn it on the pedals. So when you’re in a breakaway in the biggest race in the world, you just make the most of it.”
The day when… I finished in the top 10 at Paris-Roubaix
6 April 2024
“I had had a really good Classics campaign that year, and Paris-Roubaix was supposed to be the confirmation. Everything came together on the day, from start to finish. The race went perfectly, I felt good physically and mentally, and I really felt that we had done everything we could as a team to make it work. It went by so quickly: I remember getting through the first cobbled sector, looking up and we were already at the velodrome! Finishing in the top 10 (8th) in the French champion’s jersey, in front of my family and loved ones, was really special.”
The day when… I managed to bounce back after a long injury lay-off
2026
“This year, I crashed at the Tour of Flanders in April and injured my elbow and wrist in the spring, and then I fractured my sacrum at the Tour of Portugal. Each time, I was out for several weeks. It was difficult, especially as I missed Paris-Roubaix, which was my big goal for the season. I was lucky to have great support from my family, the team, the doctor, my coach and a physio. We listened to my body and that helped me get back to my level. This ability not to give up and to push yourself beyond your limits is perhaps what makes the difference between an ordinary athlete and a top-level athlete.”
The day when… I won my last race with Cofidis
30 August 2026, Stage 4 of the Tour of Tuscany
“I arrived at the Tour of Tuscany coming back from injury and I wasn’t yet at 100 per cent. At the prologue, I thought it was going to be difficult, but then I finally found my rhythm. I told myself that I had nothing to lose, that I just had to enjoy it, and in the end it worked on the final stage! I burst into tears at the finish: all the emotions I had been keeping inside for several months finally came pouring out.”
The day when… I raced for Cofidis for the last time
29 September, Mirabelle Classic (3rd)
“It was inevitably very special. I’ve worn this jersey for five years. Cofidis was an obvious choice, it’s part of my identity, it’s like a second family. Of course, it’s emotional to turn the page. I was a little girl when I joined, and I’ve become a woman; I’ve experienced some incredible things. I feel that I’ve taken a step forward, both professionally and personally. And Cofidis has been there with me through every one of those stages.”