“Nothing better could have happened to me” – Ewen Costiou emotional after starring in Tour de France breakaway
Cycling
Ewen Costiou wasn’t meant to be in the breakaway on Stage 7
of the Tour de France. But when the race opened up early, the Arkea – B&B
Hotels rider seized the moment, and ended the day as the most combative rider
after being in the break with former winner Geraint Thomas.
“At the start, I wasn't the team's chosen rider to break
away, but in the end I caught the right wave and found myself in a good group,
including Geraint Thomas,” he told the Tour de France official site. “The
peloton didn't give us much leeway, but we managed our effort well and
accelerated when we had to.”
Costiou surged ahead on the first ascent of the Mur de
Bretagne, cresting the climb solo in front of a roaring crowd, “Nothing better
could have happened to me. It was an incredible climb, especially in front of
my family, my girlfriend and my friends. I'll definitely remember it for the
rest of my life.”
It was a full-circle moment for the young rider, who had
ridden the same climb years ago as a junior at the start of a stage.
His solo effort didn’t last. After being reeled in by the
bunch, Costiou went down in a crash with around 10 kilometers to go. He escaped
with only minor injuries, in a crash which also caught out the likes of Joao
Almeida.
“I came out of it pretty well, just with a few scratches. It
was a great day that will stay with me forever,” he told his team post-stage.
“The crowd was pushing me, I've never experienced such an atmosphere, and I
gave it my all.”
With Kevin Vauquelin’s strong performances earlier in the
race, Costiou said the mood inside Arkea – B&B Hotels remains high, “The
start of the Tour de France has been more than successful for the team with
Kevin's performance. He's pulling us all up.”
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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