"Cosnefroy wants to imitate Pogacar and Alaphilippe" - AG2R Citroen boss Vincent Lavenu

Tadej Pogacar and Julian Alaphilippe are renowned as two of the most successful cyclists of their generation. If AG2R Citroen team manager Vincent Lavenu is to be believed, Benoit Cosnefroy could soon join their ranks.

"Benoît Cosnefroy on the Flandriennes? It's a bit like this new generation where there are no longer any stereotypes," Lavenu explains. "We see Tadej Pogacar, Julian Alaphilippe or other runners who are able to play on all the grounds. Benoît wanted to do like them, by trying the adventure and he has qualities that will allow him to shine if he has a great day."

"Even if he has no experience of Flandriennes, he will be accompanied by Greg Van Avermaet, Oliver Naesen and others. We have a team that knows the roads and that will be able to accompany Benoît," says the 67-year-old former Route d'Occitanie stage winner. "This is the lot of all the teams who have riders at the end of their contract, but AG2R Citroën has arguments to be able to keep Benoît Cosnefroy."