"It's special for me" - Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team rider Benoît Cosnefroy picks up FDJ Coupe de France award

The FDJ Coupe de France has long been a highlight of the French national cycling calendar, running from January’s Grand Prix La Marseillaise to September’s Grand Prix d'Isbergues. This year, the awards night was particularly special for Benoît Cosnefroy of Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, who received an award recognising his contributions and successes.

Reflecting on his season, Cosnefroy was full of gratitude and pride. “It’s a very good season. I didn’t win this year in the WorldTour, but I have seven victories, and I’m very happy about that," he said during the ceremony, as reported by Cyclism’Actu. "It’s true that I particularly like the events of the Coupe de France FDJ and their very competitive format.”

Cosnefroy extended his appreciation to those behind the scenes. “There are quite a few organizers who are present this evening,” he added. “Most of them are volunteers, and they are really important for our performances and having fun in the race, so thank you to them!”

The Coupe de France holds a special place in Cosnefroy’s heart, not just for the racing but for the personal connections it fosters. “It’s a bit special for me to come to the Coupe de France because I always come across faces on the side of the road that I know and that I’ve seen since I was with the youth, in cadet or junior. It’s always special.”

This year, Cosnefroy credited the blend of youth and experience within Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale for their strong showing in the series. “We were supported a lot by our Continental team and young people. There was this mix of youth and experience to bring, of passion, and that meant that we had a very good Coupe de France this year.”

In closing, he expressed his gratitude to everyone who made the season memorable. “I also thank the whole team, the staff, our managers, and Paul (Lapeira) of course, even if we didn’t see each other too much in the Coupe de France, it seems to me. And thank you to the FDJ naturally for the sponsorship and welcoming us!”