Cofidis counting on sprinter Fretin for points in Giro d’Italia, but also aiming for glory in the breakaway

Cofidis will likely head to Southern Europe with confidence, having secured a stage win last year with Benjamin Thomas. They also tasted success in Italy back in 2021, when Victor Lafay claimed a stage victory in the season’s first grand tour.

This year, all eyes will be on Fretin. The Belgian sprinter is having an impressive season so far. The 24-year-old kicked things off with a strong win at the Clásica de Almería, followed by another sprint victory at the Volta ao Algarve. A few weeks ago, he proved his form was no fluke by sprinting to yet another win at the Tour of Limburg.

While Cofidis will target a sprint stage win with Fretin, the team is well aware of the stiff competition. That’s why their main goal will be to hunt for podium finishes. They’ll attempt this with riders like Spaniard Sergio Samitier, Italian Stefano Oldani, Frenchman Anthony Pérez, and Belgian Sylvain Moniquet, each expected to go on the attack in long breakaways.

A key asset in achieving those goals is Jan Maas. The Dutch rider, along with Jonathan Lastra and Nicolas Debeaumarché, will be an invaluable part of the team over the next three weeks. This will be Maas’ second grand tour. The 29-year-old already rode the Vuelta in 2023, where his best result was a 14th-place finish.

Team director Cédric Vasseur explained the team’s goals on the Cofidis website: “The objective for this Giro is the same as last year’s edition: to chase a stage victory and shine in the sprints. Fretin is making his grand tour debut and will have multiple opportunities to fully showcase his abilities. Unfortunately, he won’t have the support of Piet Allegaert, who is injured and unavailable for the coming weeks.”

“Samitier, Oldani, Pérez, and Moniquet will be our podium hunters,” the team boss continued. “The team is completed by Lastra and Maas, two experienced riders who work tirelessly behind the scenes and are essential to the team’s success. We’re also very happy to see Debeaumarché back at the start line on Friday, after his serious crash in last year’s Tour of Poland. He returned to racing in late March, and just like the entire Cofidis team, he’s ready for the next three weeks!”