Cofidis Ends Stage Win Drought at the 2023 Tour de France in Epic Fashion.
The 2023 Tour de France has been full of surprises like insane attacks, untimely departures, and historic stage wins. Last week, French team Cofidis ended a 15-year winless streak at the Tour.
Cofidis had only two stage wins in eleven Tour de France appearances before this year. The team's last victory materialized on stage 19 in 2008 when Sylvain Chavanel broke away from the peloton about halfway along the 165.5 kilometer route from Roanne to Montlucon. Chavanel managed to keep his distance and take the stage victory.
But that was a long time ago.
This year, fellow Frenchman Victor Lafay, 27, broke the winless streak in epic fashion. On stage 2, the longest route of the Tour, Lafay made his move at flamme rouge of the 208.9-kilometer route from Vitoria-Gasteiz to San Sébastián. Lafay broke away and managed to stay away despite being chased by sprinter Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) and Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), who finished second and third, respectively.
This huge milestone was punctuated with thumbtacks. Several riders, including much of the Cofidis squad, suffered a spate of punctures after tacks were scattered on the race course.
“They have put thumbtacks on us. Almost all our cyclists have punctured, all except Victor Lafay and one other. I think they have gone too far, the thumbtacks were superfluous,” said Cofidis director Bingen Fernández to Marca, according to Cycling Up To Date.
Despite this mishap, Cofidis riders continued their pursuit for a stage prize.
During Stage 12 yesterday, with less than 30-kilometers remaining in the 169-kilometer route from Roanne to Belleville-en-Beaujolais, Cofidis rider Ion Izaguirre attacked Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) on the fifth and final climb.
“This is the rider we were told by Cédric Vasseur before the Tour started was 100 percent certain to win the opening stage. He knew all of the roads. He’s a Basque rider,” said the Tour announcer.
Izaguirre, 34, danced on the pedals as he pulled away from Van der Poel. As he crested Col de la Croix Rosier solo, he extended his lead on the peloton, and picked up the five-point prize for his king of the mountain domination.
“He’s got one ambition now…to win the stage,” said the Tour announcer.
Izaguirre kept his feet on the gas through Basque country. Vasseur’s premonition, though two weeks late, was materializing. Teammate, Guillaume Martin, countered attacks from the chase group which helped to widen Izaguirre’s lead.
Shouts for the Spaniard on the French team grew louder as he approached the finish line. This second stage win for team Cofidis is also Izaguirre’s second Tour stage win. The last time he captured the top step was on stage 20 of the 2016 Tour.
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