A clear goal: stage victory
The Cofidis team, which we proudly support at Buds-Sports, has officially announced the eight riders who will line up at the start of the Tour de France this Saturday. It is an announcement we were especially eager to see, as our partnership with the team is built in the field, where both equipment and riders are truly put to the test.
Cofidis’ approach for this edition is clear: take every stage as a one-day race and go for the win. Mass sprints, hilly stages, high mountains: the team has selected a group capable of taking opportunities across every type of terrain.
Milan Fretin has been named the team’s sprint leader and will be supported by an experienced lead-out train. Meanwhile, Alex Aranburu and Ion Izagirre will have the freedom to target hilly stages and breakaway opportunities.
As Raphaël Jeune, the team’s general manager, sums it up, the instruction is simple: “every stage is a classic”, and every day is a chance to win.
The full Cofidis roster
Eight riders, complementary profiles, and a solid level of experience on the roads of the Tour de France.
| Rider | Age | Tour de France appearances | Role in this Tour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milan Fretin | 25 | 1st | Sprint leader |
| Piet Allegaert | 31 | 2nd | Lead-out train |
| Jenthe Biermans | 30 | 2nd | Lead-out train |
| Alex Kirsch | 34 | 3rd | Lead-out train |
| Hugo Page | 24 | 3rd | Lead-out train, breakaways |
| Benjamin Thomas | 30 | 3rd | Road captain |
| Alex Aranburu | 30 | 5th | Hilly stages, breakaways |
| Ion Izagirre | 37 | 12th | Hilly stages, breakaways |
Meet the team:
Three riders to watch closely
Milan Fretin, the sprint card. Making his first Tour de France appearance, the 25-year-old Belgian arrives with strong momentum: a stage win at the Ruta del Sol and several second-place finishes this season. The entire team has been built around him for the fast finishes.
Ion Izagirre, the experience. At 37, the Spanish rider is taking part in his twelfth Tour de France. Winner of the GP Miguel Indurain this season and no stranger to victory on tricky stages, he knows exactly how to place a breakaway at the right moment.
Alex Aranburu, the all-rounder. Already a two-time stage winner this season, at the Tour of the Basque Country and the Baloise Belgium Tour, he will be targeting hilly routes where power and tactical instinct can make the difference.
What this partnership says about our products
Supporting a World Tour team also means witnessing a high level of demand: during a Grand Tour, bikes are handled, transported, and protected dozens of times. This is exactly the kind of environment we design for at Buds-Sports.
The Tour de France weeks are also the weeks when many of you head back out on the road with your own bike: a cycling getaway, a legendary climb, or a weekend ride. To travel with peace of mind, discover our transport and protection solutions:
- Our bike travel bags, designed for car, train, and air travel.
- Our bike protection accessories, designed to protect your frame, derailleur, and fork during transport.
See you on the roads of the Tour
We will be following the Cofidis riders stage after stage. A victory, a breakaway, a standout performance: we will be proud to share every moment with you.
Enjoy the Tour, and safe riding to everyone hitting the road this summer.
