The month of August is always synonymous with transfer announcements in the cycling market. Cofidis was one of the teams that recently announced a new addition for the 2026 season. Luxembourg's Alex Kirsch has signed a 3-year contract to help the French outfit become much more competitive, we'll see if he retains the World Tour license at the conclusion of the current campaign. But that hasn't mattered to the 33-year-old, who leaves Lidl-Trek with clear objectives.
Cofidis' official press release on the signing of Kirsch reveals that the rider will have several main objectives. The first of these has to do with the fight for the sprints, where he will act as Milan Fretin's right-hand man.
In addition, building on his good performance in the classics, the French team wants Alex Kirsch to become a regular during the spring period, with special emphasis on the Flemish.
In statements made after his signing was made official (included in the official press release), Kirsch did not want to hide his excitement to change Lidl-Trek, where he was less important, for Cofidis where he can become a fundamental pillar.
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"It is a great pleasure for me to join the Cofidis team starting next year. There are several reasons for my choice. First of all, I'm very happy to be able to be one of Milan's (Fretin) teammates, to be able to use my experience to position him well and allow us to perform at our best in the final sprints. Also, I know that I will have a little more freedom in the Flemish classics, which are races that I really like," he began.
"I'm a very resilient rider, a puncheur, and I always try to think during the race to know what can have a positive impact for the team. At Lidl-Trek we have grown progressively with riders like Mads Pedersen, Jasper Stuyven and myself. I think I can bring my experience to help Cofidis continue to grow," he added.
Cofidis aims to be one of the sprinting references in 2026
The words of Cofidis
General Manager Cédric Vasseur also commented on the signing:
"I am very happy to welcome Alex Kirsch to the Cofidis team. He is an experienced rider who will make the team grow thanks to his sporting and human qualities. He has competed at the highest level in recent years and has served the interests of riders like Mads Pedersen. With his arrival, we will considerably reinforce our group of sprinters and classics riders."
"I am convinced that the partnership with Milan Fretin will be a success and that we will be better prepared to compete with other sprinters' teams. In addition, I am also convinced that Alex will know how to take his chance in the Flemish classics, as he has always put himself at the service of his leaders. At Cofidis, he will have the freedom to shine," he concluded.
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Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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parisbound0008-11-2026 - there needs to be space in life for pointless comments!Ketterechts08-11-2026
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