With new faces on the team, Cofidis are starting their year off right as they collect two consecutive wins in Etoile de Bessèges.
Benjamin Thomas won the third stage of the French stage-race with a brilliant solo move within the final 3 kilometers after making the race-winning move over the final climb. Now in the lead of the race, Thomas is certainly a favourite aswell to fight for the first place of the overall classification, but for the time being the French team are enjoying their success.
"When the opportunity was present at the top of the hill, he knew how to grab it and go for this great solo victory. We're on a positive spiral and we'll do everything to keep seizing it!" Said Alain Deloeuil, DS of the French team.
After Bryan Coquard broke an 18-month old period with no wins yesterday, the French time-trial national champion broke his 4 year and 7-month old dry spell in non-time trial races.
To L'Équipe, Thomas affirmed: "In Etoile de Bessèges I came to raise my arms in the air, the GC comes after. Tomorrow we'll have to resist, I'll be the man to beat."
Benjamin Thomas is leading the race 7 seconds ahead of Alberto Bettiol and 15 ahead of TotalEnergie's Mathieu Burgaudeau. Having survived the crosswind chaos and seizing the bad luck of some of his rivals, Thomas sees himself in a position he likely wasn't expecting to be in.
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- All very sad. But you seem to be backing the journalists in generally demonising Tadej and canonising Jonas. This article is interesting though, and suggests Jonas is making very good financial decisions, acquiring luxury homes that he and his family are enjoying living in, and staying near family (also now in luxury homes) who can help with the kids. Sounds like a great lifestyle, and not a basis for critising Pog's decisions.Hills3311-01-2026
- Anyone who thinks the Giro is a training camp for the Tour, for Vingegaard, is not right in the head. First of all, he is not Pogacar and secondly, UAE will send almost A team to make Jonas life miserable and make the race difficult. If the danish fisherman competes in Giro, his chances drop from 20 to 2 percent. I also read some foolish statements that the 2026 Tour is against Pogi and I'm dying of laughter. 2026 is the most ideal Tour that Pogi will ever ride. Not a single stage is difficult except 20st. Everything else is made for UAE to control. Every mountain stage has 30-40km of easy terrain before the last climb.NikkoNicco11-01-2026
- it doesn’t matter what Jonas is doing with the houses, the article is trash. and the fact that he is buying houses in Denmark with no criticism makes everyone’s point all the stronger. it is Tadej’s life. he isn’t breaking the law. he can live where he wishes how he wishes. and his “side” isn’t quoted, which especially irks me. it makes it sound as if he is living in Monaco just to cheat taxes. maybe he is there because it is an ideal training base year round. or any other number or reasons. and, it happens to be a good financial decision.mij11-01-2026
- Unbelievably I remember people saying 2024 Pogi was avoiding Jonas by riding the Giro. Seriously why wouldn’t Jonas ride the Giro? Only GT he hasn’t won. It’s a pretty obvious and logical move.mobk11-01-2026
- it must suck to have to admit that the time to win is only going to be a result of someone else’s retirement, not improved skill or speed.mij11-01-2026
- National champs are supposed to be individual events, rider v rider not raced as teams.wipperman9511-01-2026
- National champs are supposed to be individual events, rider v rider not raced as teams.wipperman9511-01-2026
- I assume Plapp will be about as popular as a fart in a gas mask this season on the team bus. What an absolute clown shoe. Attacking his own team-mate with a lap and a half to go, bringing back his rivals with you, then fluffing it yourself to let the other guy win. You’d assume that if they had race radios, the DS would be telling Plapp to stop p*sing on Durbo’s chips, but at the same time you’d also expect a World Tour rider to understand this kind of basic racecraft. Felt like watching Dwars with Nielsen Powless and Visma. Hats off to the winner though, and him sledging his former team for giving him the boot, haha. Unreal scenes.antipodeanpedalfan11-01-2026
- You can write the same article replacing JV with a whole bunch of names. Every race needs competitors and wants the best they can get. Jonas has a Vuelta, 2 Tours and no Giro, you said it yourself so - Go figure. Has he ruled out the Tour? Am convinced if Tadej decides to do the Giro, Jonas won’t cancel, it’s nothing to do with dodging, it’s about deciding for himself and not living for others. Jonas has offered plenty of competition to Tadej, it’s not his only purpose or obligation. Had there not been a Tadej, he’d be considered one of the too 3 GT riders ever, he’s just a bit unlucky not to clearly be ahead of Froome and no other recent rider comes close, though Rogliç might have given him a good run if not in the same team.Mistermaumau11-01-2026
- But you see, you are looking at Jonas as if he thinks like you. Maybe he’s not buying houses to MAKE money, perhaps just to use them? There are plenty of countries and cultures where it is quite common for people with means to help those with less, family, friends, neighbours, community. It used to be more like that in a lot of countries where (aside from dole fringe minority) that seems to have changed and probably been forgotten.Mistermaumau11-01-2026
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