[/su_column] [su_quote cite=»BENOIT COSNEFROY»]
BENOIT COSNEFROY: «A great team to take over»
«We were always in the right position. Collectively, we started the race as we wanted to. We were in control. I attacked on the ridge road after some good work from Quentin Jaurégui and François Bidard. The race got off to a good start. I knew I had very good legs and behind us we had Clément Venturini, who was capable of controlling the peloton. We had quite a few cards to play, so we might as well have an unrestrained race. In the final, I was perhaps more wary of Tom Devriendt.
He's a friend of Oliver's (Naesen). I met him this winter in Spain during training and I know he has good speed. I spent three weeks training in January. My goals are further away, but I wanted to win in February.
I wanted to kick off my season, and the team's season. Now we're heading to Bessèges, where we can be ambitious.
THE FIGURE
1
Benoît Cosnefroy wins the opening race of the French calendar for the first time. He also secures the first victory of the season for the AG2R LA MONDIALE team. At 24 years of age, the 2017 Under-23 World Champion has seven professional victories to his name.
NEWS
First team leaders
With Benoît Cosnefroy (1st) leading the individual and youth classifications, Clément Venturini (6th) and Quentin Jaurégui (11th), AG2R LA MONDIALE occupies first place in the team classification of the Coupe de France, a trophy we currently hold.
