Stéphane Goubert
« It is clear that we are experiencing something fantastic. »
«It's an excellent result. We came here with ambitions of finishing on the podium, but you have to remain humble in this very demanding sport. If we're fourth after three weeks, then that's where we belong. We should be happy and satisfied with that. It's the whole team that enabled Ben to finish fourth. This collective effort has been rewarded with victory in the overall team classification and also by Valentin and Andrea, who were able to capitalise on everyone's work with two fine stage victories. For me, it was one of my best Grand Tours. We keep saying it, but we've been on a great run since the start of the season. It's clear that we're experiencing something fantastic. We have to enjoy it and continue to achieve great things.»
The information
Ten years later, another victory in the team classification
After being the best team in the Giro d'Italia in 2014, DECATHLON AG2R LA MONDIALE won the overall team classification in the 2024 edition. After a long battle with Ineos Grenadiers, the team's collective strength in the third week allowed them to pull ahead and secure their place as the best team in the Giro d'Italia.
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The figure
Valentin Retailleau, a member of the day's breakaway, managed to hold off the peloton in the final kilometres and won the last stage of the Boucles de la Mayenne: «We had a great day at the front with good teamwork, everyone taking turns to push us to the finish. It worked, and in the end, it's my first professional victory, which is just incredible! We're having a great season, everyone is on the same wavelength, and having a leader like Benoît (Cosnefroy) come and congratulate you at the finish line is a wonderful reward,» explains Valentin. On the same day, Aubin Sparfel secured another victory with Conti in the Tour du Pays de Vaud.
