Today's Edition
In-form Cosnefroy seals Boucles de la Mayenne title
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
Benoit Cosnefroy safely navigated a tense final stage to secure the general classification title at the Boucles de la Mayenne, marking his first overall victory since joining UAE Team Emirates-XRG during the winter transfer window.
The 30-year-old Frenchman entered the final day of racing with a slender 7-second advantage over his nearest rival. With the flat 180-kilometre course from Le Horps to Laval presenting potential pitfalls, Cosnefroy's teammates executed a disciplined defensive strategy to control the early breakaway and neutralise late attacks.
The main threat on the road came from Groupama-FDJ's Thibaud Gruel, who attempted to claw back time through bonus seconds at the intermediate sprints.
However, the Emirati squad maintained a tight grip on the peloton, ensuring the race concluded in a traditional bunch sprint. The final stage honours went to Olav Kooij of Decathlon CMA CGM, whilst Cosnefroy crossed the line safely embedded within the main field to confirm his fourth victory in less than a month.
The foundation for Cosnefroy's overall triumph was laid during Saturday's gruelling second stage, where a powerful sprint finish delivered him the leader's jersey.
Speaking after the podium ceremony, Cosnefroy said: "I'm very happy – especially since I could throw my hands in the air yesterday, which is the highlight of the week. As for today, my team and I accomplished our mission.
"There were a lot of supporters around to make the race even sweeter, and I want to say a big 'kudos' to the organisers because they really took care of every detail so we could race safely.
"We had to be very focused throughout the day in order to keep the leader's jersey, as we had to watch out for the tactics of rivals like Groupama's Thibaud Gruel, who was chasing bonus seconds in the intermediate sprint.
"It's never easy to adapt to a new environment. I was joining a very strong team and one can never be sure of how things will go. In the end, it's going super well. I am happy and in good shape, and I've been granted many chances to play my cards. There have been many positive days in this campaign – especially since April. Things are getting better race after race," Cosnefroy said.
