[/su_column]
[su_quote cite="BENOIT COSNEFROY"]
BENOIT COSNEFROY: “A crowning achievement”
“It was a very tense week, but the team handled the situation perfectly. It could all have ended in the first stage if I hadn’t had such great support from the team. Winning the Etoile de Bessèges is a real achievement. I owe a lot to my teammates and I’m really grateful to everyone. Last year, I won the overall classification in Tour Limousin, but the stress and emotion are not the same when everything is decided in a time trial like today. I was familiar with this time trial because I did it two years ago, so I knew what to expect, but I stayed focused on my effort. I was confident and I knew that the climb would be my strong point. The season is off to a good start, I'll be at the start of the Tour Haut Var in two weeks, but my first big goal is Paris-Nice."[/su_quote] [su_row][su_column size="1/2"]
PHOTO : Vincent Curutchet / AG2R LA MONDIALE
AURELIEN PARET-PEINTRE: “A wonderful week”
“I wasn't originally scheduled to compete in the Etoile de Bessèges, so I'm happy to start this way. For the past three weeks, I knew I was feeling good.
This time trial is difficult, I like that, and I wanted to defend my place in the overall standings. This week, I was able to test myself with different efforts. I can't wait to be at the start of Tour la Provence, where there will be a field worthy of a UCI WorldTour race and some great climbs.
PHOTO : Vincent Curutchet / AG2R LA MONDIALE
PIERRE LATOUR: “Good work all week long”
“I’m happy to finish the Etoile de Bessèges with this third place in the time trial, but what stands out most for me is Benoît’s victory. I started out working for the team, and we all really enjoyed ourselves. I felt that things were getting better every day, and I hope that will continue at the Ruta Del Sol (February 19-23).”
Key number
36
Winner of the Grand Prix de la Marseillaise and the Etoile de Bessèges, the first two races on the French calendar, Benoit Cosnefroy is the first rider achieve such a double since Eddy Planckaert in 1984.
NEWS
Two wins in three years
By taking the second victory of the season (the 8th of his career),
Benoît Cosnefroy allows the AG2R LA MONDIALE team to win the Etoile de Bessèges for the second time in three editions.
