Cofidis hand freedom to experienced squad as they unveil ambitious plan with Vuelta a Espana line-up
CyclingMonday, 17 August 2026 at 15:30
Cofidis tackles La Vuelta a España 2026 with a clear goal: seize the race’s openings and take at least one stage win. The French outfit brings an experienced squad and will split its chances between bunch finishes and days when the road tilts upward.
Bryan Coquard and Alexis Renard will be the main cards for the fast finishes, while Louis Roulland, Sylvain Moniquet, Emmanuel Buchmann, and Sergio Samitier will have freedom to animate the breakaways and the more demanding stages.
This year’s edition offers multiple chances for sprinters, with four flat stages and another four with rolling terrain that could also end in bunch or reduced sprints.
Cofidis will lean especially on Bryan Coquard, who arrives at La Vuelta after showing strong form this season. The Frenchman has two wins in 2026, at GP La Marseillaise and the Visit South Aegean GP, and will look to add to his tally at the season’s final Grand Tour.
Alongside him is Alexis Renard, a regular presence at the front who has stacked up numerous top-10s throughout the season.
For stage finales, both will be supported by Alex Kirsch and Paul Ourselin, tasked with dropping their leaders into prime position before the decisive kilometres.
Opportunities in the mountains
Cofidis also aims to feature on the days when the road rises. Sylvain Moniquet, Emmanuel Buchmann, and Louis Roulland are among those earmarked to hunt breakaways and pounce on openings over the three weeks.
Sergio Samitier rounds out the group set to play its cards on the most demanding stages and try to shine from the escapes.
The French team’s approach will be crucial given the difficulty of fighting for the general classification against riders like Tadej Pogacar. Hence Cofidis is betting on an aggressive strategy and targeting stage wins rather than focusing solely on the overall.
Strong Cofidis lineup for La Vuelta a España
A historic relationship with La Vuelta
La Vuelta holds a special place in Cofidis’ history. The French team has achieved notable success in the Spanish Grand Tour, particularly over recent decades.
Jesús Herrada delivered three stage victories for the team, in 2019, 2022, and 2023, while Guillaume Martin won the mountains jersey in 2020. Nicolas Edet also stood out, wearing the red leader’s jersey in 2019.
Earlier, Franck Vandenbroucke claimed two stage wins in 1999, while David Moncoutié became one of the race’s modern specialists. The Frenchman won the mountains classification four times, between 2008 and 2011, and took four stage victories in those editions.
Now Cofidis will try to write a new chapter in that story with a squad built to attack and make the most of its chances.
Gorka Gerrikagoitia: “Our main objective will be to win a stage”
Cofidis sports director Gorka Gerrikagoitia is clear about the priority during the three weeks of racing.
“Our major objective will be to win a stage. We can count on Bryan Coquard, who has once again shown his talent this year and arrives in very good shape. He will have opportunities both in sprinters’ stages and in those for puncheurs that can also end in a sprint.”
Gerrikagoitia also highlighted the role Alexis Renard, Alex Kirsch, and Paul Ourselin will play in supporting Coquard in the finales.
“Bryan will be able to rely on the whole team, especially Alexis Renard, Alex Kirsch, and Paul Ourselin, to be well positioned at the finish.”
On the mountain days, the sports director acknowledged the difficulty of battling the top favourites but backed the plan to seek breakaways and openings.
“We know that with Tadej Pogacar on the start line it will be very hard to compete in the high-mountain stages. Instead, we’ll assess opportunities day by day for Emmanuel Buchmann, Sylvain Moniquet, and Louis Roulland to get into the breakaways and look for chances.”
Cofidis’ message is clear: attack, hunt opportunities, and fight for a win across the 21 stages.
Cofidis at La Vuelta a España 2026
| Cyclist | Nationality |
| Bryan Coquard | France |
| Alexis Renard | France |
| Alex Kirsch | Luxembourg |
| Paul Ourselin | France |
| Sylvain Moniquet | Belgium |
| Emmanuel Buchmann | Germany |
| Louis Roulland | France |
| Sergio Samitier | Spain |
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- I don't know, maybe you're right about the podium in TdF, but if Seixas and Del Toro keep improving at this rate, it's gonna be tough.PogiSloFans17-08-2026
- Hmm, the butterfly effect sounds interesting.Hills3317-08-2026
- He finishes top 10 and maybe a podium on a stage. Can't see him beating Tadej for sure.mij17-08-2026
- that's what I would call a word salad, that makes no sense.Crashjames17-08-2026
- Does Pinarello just pick up the best riders they want from Ineos and then end that relationship, focusing on their own team? Their own brand?mij17-08-2026
- Yes, I was thinking he could have gone straight for all the GTs. The level at the top would not have been quite so competitive to start with.Hills3317-08-2026
- I hope Coquard can win a stage. He was needlessly trashed last year during the tour with Jasper's crash.mij17-08-2026
- agreed. and to the "oh, I'm so proud of him prioritizing his family crowd", he can do so because of (a) the 5 million he makes and (b) his employer doesn't hold him accountable. the haters on here will say "don't knock him for making his priorities his family". well my # 1 and only priority is my family. I'd love to be around them, but I haven't made enough money in 1 year to buy investment properties and retire for life. I get it that he is injured, but his story is exhausting. The only thing I disagree with is your podium comment. He could make it back on.mij17-08-2026
- ok, good point - you don't have to be. call me old fashioned.mij17-08-2026
- those 19?mij17-08-2026
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