Étoile de Bessèges (1st Stage): Benoît Cosnefroy third

© Vincent Curutchet

"A good day for me and for the team"

"It's a good day for me and for the team. Of course, the goal this morning at the start was to win. But when you're beaten by a stronger team, you just have to say 'hats off'. There was sport all day and we managed to respond. The team was really strong and I want to thank the guys for their hard work throughout the stage. These are special days where the tactical aspect plays a big role. It's nice to be at the front and not to be subjected to the race. There are still some nice stages to play in front again." – Benoît Cosnefroy

The third place of Benoît Cosnefroy is his second podium in the first stage of the Étoile de Bessèges. He took second place in 2020 before winning the final general classification.

"The stage was difficult and nervous but the guys remained solid and concentrated until the end. Benoît (Cosnefroy) was ideally placed before the final pack, but he and Mads Pedersen (2nd) fell to a great Arnaud De Lie (1st). We will continue to take the stages as they come without thinking about the general classification," said Stéphane Goubert, sports director of the AG2R CITROËN team.