He moved from 42nd place in the rankings UCI at 18thFrom fifth among the French to third. He got married. He won in the WorldTour. 2022 is certainly one to remember. Benoit Cosnefroy. The rider of theAg2R Citroen He's had a season in which he's shown great consistency. And above all, he can play well up front.
And to think that during his first peak form, namely the Ardennes Classics, he had suffered a significant defeat. If you remember, he was declared the winner of the Amstel Gold Race. Minutes of waiting, during which he even celebrated with the team, then the ice shower. By a few millimeters, but the one who won the beer race was his breakaway companion, Michael Kwiatkowski.
From mockery to joy
His last season was the result of a good 2021, a year in which he had grown a lot and a lot was expected. But something was always missing: Bad luck, a flawed sprint, bad timing. At the Tour, too, he had a couple of interesting breakaways and several attempts, but in Paris he was left with nothing.
Until last September 9th, when Winning the GP Cycliste de Québec turned his season around and perhaps his career. For Benoit, it was his second win in the top category after the 2021 Bretagne Classic – Ouest-France, but this one was really significant given the finishing order.
«I have shown – says Benoit – a certain regularity. I was present during the season, Although this doesn't necessarily matter. I've managed to get results at all times of the year except at the beginning because I was often feverish.
«Of course, if I had managed to win the Amstel it would have changed a lot."
in crescendo
And with this awareness and with the rank of leader, he left the retreat in Spain. We saw a sunny Benoit, self-confident and ready to grow further. And maybe make the final leap in quality like his compatriot The doorThe two are similar in some ways.
«I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things to face 2023 – the Norman told Cyclism'Actu – At the moment I'm training with minimal pressure. We'll start doing more during the team training sessions."
Classics in the crosshairs
Second at the Amstel, the Fleche Wallonne (2020) and the Brabant Arrow, Cosnefroy is certainly a classics hunter. He's got a good start, even if he's not super fast, but rather has the "punch" of a finisher. Even though at 64 kilos he could almost be a climber.
«My goal? To win a great classic, but at the same time to win… always! And when I say a great classic I think above all of the Ardennes."
In this sense, the team's confidence is not lacking. This year Julien Jurdie, one of the sport directors of Ag2R Citroen, before Liège He had expressly told the team that Benoit was ideal for certain races and that he needed help. He also added that he saw him on the podium.
But first… clear ideas
Cosnefroy doesn't yet know his plans. He doesn't appear to be among those heading Down Under in January. Instead, he should be more relaxed about his departure. Much of your schedule revolves around the Tour. Grande Boucle yes or no? Benoit might not be at the Tour.
«Running the Tour – said Cosnefroy – I like it, I enjoy it, but I have complete faith in my sports management. And if the team thinks I can help them elsewhere, I'm open to their proposals.
«For now – he said before Canada – I can't help but get an important result at the Tour».
Why can't he catch up? He's proven he can compete with the best.Maybe he knows he's missing something. And if we rewind the tape, Benoit might be right. At least when it comes to top-tier racing.
At the Amstel, when he narrowly lost, he anticipated the result. In Canada, the same thing, although he did it with a super finish…
«If I look at my results at the Tour, these are still not my best. I hope to win a stage, that's the best I can hope for in the Tour de France. But luckily it's not just the Tour that excites me."
