"
I put the champagne in the fridge for Sunday!"
“The few words accompanied by a pat on the back of Benoît Cosnefroy are signed Vincent Cobée, general manager of Citroën, Monday during the presentation of the AG2R-Citroën team.
The Normand will begin his season this weekend with the Grand Prix La Marseillaise.
An appetizer that brings back good memories since it won in 2020. This appetizer comes before the major meetings of the Flanders classics and the Tour de France, a monument in sight this summer but which is not an obsession for the Norman.
Benoît, how are you before starting your season in Marseille?
Benoît Cosnefroy:
Well, we can't wait to start the season.
And like at the beginning of every year, there is excitement mixed with a little apprehension because we wonder what state of form we are in compared to the competition, but the desire to do well do is there, as of Sunday.
Read alsoCycling: for the AG2R-Citroën team the year of rebound after a disappointing season
You have chosen to discover the Flandrian classics this season for the first time, why this change of program?
This decision comes at a time in my career (he's 27, editor's note) when I wanted to discover these races.
This was not necessarily the case before because I had a profile more suited to the Ardennes classics.
I needed a little renewal after a podium on the Amstel Gold Race, at the Flèche wallonne or at the Flèche Brabançonne.
These are not victories, of course, but I got closer and I wanted to try something else with the team.
Your general manager, Vincent Lavenu, hopes to win between 15 and 20 victories this year with the team, what are your personal ambitions?
I'm coming off a good 2022 season but I don't want to set myself specific goals.
My goal is to win races.
If I win on Sunday I will be the happiest of men but the competition is tough with a high and consistent level.
Last year, I made six second places before signing a victory, I hope not to have to wait so long, in September, even if it was worth it at the Grand Prix de Québec.
It was really a nice victory in my prize list.
Victory at the Grand Prix de Québec last September.
Panoramic
Read alsoCycling: Cosnefroy offers himself a prestigious victory at the Grand Prix de Québec
The Tour de France 2023 route has been unveiled, what do you think?
It will be a climber's tour of France.
The dynamic of ASO remains to design an ever tougher Tour de France, without a transition day.
We always try to be more spectacular to hook people behind the TV and this year is no exception to the rule: there is no respite.
It's behind us all that while the riders still need to recover.
Read alsoTour de France 2023: the map and ten things to remember on the course
You seem to regret this trend...
I understand this dynamic, but the routes are getting tougher and tougher, with ever-increasing elevation and we also forget certain regions because they are less attractive.
I don't mind, it's like that, even if it's exhausting for us (laughs).
You are one of the leaders of your team in 2023, how would you define your runner profile?
I'm not what you might call a complete runner.
I don't climb very well, I don't compete in the general classifications of the big tours but rather in four or five-day events.
I'm not great in the time trial either, but I think I'm complete on my one-day race schedule.
Would you exchange all your victories and your podiums of the future season for a stage success on the Tour de France?
(He thinks) No, I don't think so.
I would obviously like to win the Tour de France because it is the biggest race in the world and it takes place in France but I would be so disappointed not to perform elsewhere for the rest of the season.
I would not accept your proposal (laughs).
The Tour de France is not an obsession.
What I like is playing on the bike, getting adrenaline, fighting to put myself in a position to win and I really need these sensations throughout a season to be good.
If it is to experience this one day in the year during the Tour de France, there would inevitably be a form of frustration.
I am aware that the results would be extremely positive, in terms of notoriety in particular,
