"He lives 10 kilometres from my parents' place" - Benoit Cosnefroy delighted to share breakaway experience with Anthony Delaplace

For a long time on stage 4 of the 2023 Tour de France it looked as if there would be no breakaway. That was before Benoit Cosnefroy and Anthony Delaplace decided to give the peloton something to chase.

"I'm over the moon with the combativity award. It was a bit of a long day," said Cosnefroy in his post-stage interview. "I agreed with Antho [Anthony Delaplace] to spend a few kilometres at the front, Valentin Madouas was also in on it. Then Antho and I took off together."

Being good friends, Cosnefroy and Delaplace made for ideal breakaway companions and although they never really believed in their chances of taking a surprise stage win, Cosnefroy enjoyed his time out front.

"He lives 10 kilometres from my parents' place and we often ride together in Normandy. He always inspired me when I was young," says the AG2R Citroën Team rider. "Being at the front of the race with Antho packed quite an emotional punch. We hoped the peloton would give us two more minutes. We talked about Normandy and the beautiful Norman flags waving on the roadsides."