In 2016, AG2R-La Mondiale has just four individual riders take victories. On Sunday at the Grand Prix d'Isbergues-Pas de Calais, Benoit Cosnefroy became the 11th rider on the 2017 roster to take a victory. It was also the first win of the 21-year-old's career after he turned professional with the team on August 1.
A stagiaire with AG2R-La Mondiale last year, Cosnefroy had ridden a handful of French and Belgian one-day races ahead of the Grand Prix d'Isbergues-Pas de Calais. The expected outcome of the 1.1 race was a sprint finish with the likes of Kristoffer Halvorsen (Joker), Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) and Arnaud Demare (FDJ) winning in recent years.
“Normally, the Grand Prix d'Isbergues is a race for the sprinters, and frankly, I never imagined such a scenario unfolding. After having started in the pros just this August, I am coming into the final part of the season pretty fresh," Cosnefroy said of his expectations.
ADVERTISEMENT
With the Worlds U23 road race Friday his primary goal for September, Cosnefroy added that he started the race with zero personal ambition for a result.
Today I wanted to work for the team, and above all put in some good work ahead of the U23 World Championships in Bergen (Norway) on Friday," he said. "But suddenly I found myself in the front of the race without even having meant to. During the race, I told Stéphane Goubert that the team should chase the break even if I was in it."
On the final lap of the race, Cosnefroy explained he thought the win was in reach if he rolled the dice. With Pierre Gouault (HP BTP - Auber93) for company, Cosnefroy successfully decided to attack and avoid a two-up sprint for the win.
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest News http://ift.tt/2fvuU1R
No comments:
Post a Comment