Why Cofidis signed this Irish rider after only one race

Meehan, who recently finished sixth in the Giro della Valle d’Aosta, got his first taste of WorldTour racing with Cofidis starting August 1st. OHe immediately finished second on day two, and ultimately ended the race 14th in the overall classification.

That performance left such a strong impression that Cofidis didn’t hesitate. “The sporting directors, under the leadership of Cédric Vasseur, made a rare decision: to offer him a three-year contract. Jamie didn’t hesitate long, he called it ‘a dream come true,’” the French team shared in a press release.

“He continues the beautiful story between the AVC Aix club and the Cofidis team,” the WorldTour squad added, referring to a pathway previously taken by riders like Christophe Laporte, Anthony Pérez, and more recently Oliver Knight and Clément Izquierdo. “Like them, Jamie hopes to keep developing,” said Cofidis, which will also have Meehan ride the upcoming Tour de l’Avenir.  

“This contract is truly unbelievable. For me, it’s a dream come true,” said Meehan. “I’ve trained for so long and fought for years to reach this moment. The Tour de l’Ain is something I’ll remember for a long time. I really enjoyed getting to know the team, integrating into the group, and learning from my teammates.”

“I didn’t think I could actually make it onto the podium in a stage,” the Irishman added. “But by staying on the wheels of the best, I told myself maybe there was a chance. I see myself as a climber. I love hard races, tough climbs,” he said. “At Cofidis, I want to keep learning and do everything I can to support my teammates!”