Alexis Gougeard to rejoin professional ranks with Cofidis in 2024
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Alexis Gougeard will rejoin the WorldTour in 2024 after signing a one-year contract with Cofidis. The Frenchman had dropped all the way down to the novice ranks for the 2023 season following the collapse of the B&B Accommodations squad final winter.
“I’m very blissful that the group has proven confidence in me,” Gougeard mentioned in a press release launched by Cofidis on Friday. “All season, my goal was to bounce again, to point out I used to be able to attending to skilled degree once more. I’m happy to see that Cofidis has taken notice of the work I’ve finished these previous months.”
A local of Rouen in Normandy, Gougeard returned to his native membership, VC Rouen 76, within the wake of the demise of B&B Accommodations, the place he had spent the 2022 season. The 30-year-old claimed quite a few wins on the home scene this 12 months, together with Le Caux Tour, the Grand Prix de Neufchâtel-en-Saosnois and the general classification on the Tour des Deux-Sèvres-Magasins. Gougeard additionally made a notable solo effort of greater than 120km on the French novice championships earlier than putting seventh in Cassel.
“I’m significantly grateful to VC Rouen 76 who accompanied me all season and who gave me plenty of freedom,” mentioned Gougeard. “That allowed me to regain my confidence and I’ve to thank them for this lovely journey.”
Gougeard first turned skilled with AG2R in 2014 and he scored his largest victory the next 12 months when he received a stage of the Vuelta a España in Avila. The Frenchman would spend a complete of eight seasons with Vincent Lavenu’s squad, forming a key a part of their cobbled Classics unit, earlier than he moved to B&B Accommodations in 2022.
“We had already talked to Alexis about becoming a member of our ranks, however it by no means occurred,” mentioned Cofidis supervisor Cedric Vasseur, who added that Gougegard would play a key function on the cobbles for his new group.
“We have been watching his progress this 12 months, and given the outcomes he is already achieved professionally and his superiority at novice degree, we’re delighted to supply him the possibility to show what he is able to on the highest degree.”
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