Men - Pro Team Cofidis

Cofidis: French cycling team with a chequered history

From scandals to a return to the WorldTour

The French cycling team Cofidis can look back on an eventful history. Founded in 1997, it has experienced highs and lows, including doping scandals and sporting successes. After years in the second division, Cofidis returned to the WorldTour in 2020 and established itself as a permanent fixture in the peloton.

The French cycling team Cofidis is one of the most traditional teams in the professional peloton. Founded in 1997 by the tele-credit company of the same name, the team can look back on an eventful history. In the beginning, Cofidis was able to sign well-known riders such as Tony Rominger and Lance Armstrong, although the latter never competed in a race for the team due to his cancer. In the following years, Cofidis established itself as a permanent fixture in cycling and experienced both sporting highs and lows. Following the reorganisation of categories in road cycling in 2005, Cofidis was given the status of a UCI ProTeam, the current designation UCI WorldTeam. However, in 2010 the team decided to voluntarily relegate itself to the second division as a UCI Professional Continental Team in order to be more flexible in its race planning.

Doping scandals shake the team

The history of Cofidis is closely linked to doping scandals. In 2004, the so-called Cofidis affair shook the team and the entire sport of cycling. Following undercover investigations, the French judiciary searched the homes of employees and athletes. A coach was identified as the head of a procurement and distribution network for banned substances. Several riders, including David Millar and Philippe Gaumont, were convicted or confessed to doping practices. The affair triggered heated discussions in France and led to a tightening of the anti-doping rules. Cofidis reacted by cancelling all races and introducing its own strict anti-doping guidelines. Despite these measures, there were further cases of doping within the team in the following years, for example at the Tour de France in 2007 and 2012.

Sporting reorientation and return to the WorldTour

After years in the second division of cycling, Cofidis decided to aim for promotion to the WorldTour for the 2020 season. The team received the corresponding licence and thus returned to the highest category of road cycling. This decision marked a turning point in the team's history and showed its determination to be one of the top teams again. Cofidis made targeted reinforcements and signed experienced riders such as Guillaume Martin and Elia Viviani in order to be competitive in the Grand Tours and Classics. However, both riders have since left the team. The return to the WorldTour also meant a commitment to take part in all UCI WorldTour races, which presented a new challenge for the team's management and logistics.

Current developments and outlook

Cofidis has a strong squad for the 2025 season. The top performers include the German climber Emanuel Buchmann, the Belgian classics specialist Dylan Teuns and the French sprinter Bryan Coquard. The team relies on a mixture of experienced professionals and promising talents. With Ion Izagirre, the team has an all-rounder who can be successful in both stage races and one-day classics. Cofidis continues to attach great importance to the development of young French riders and has two young talents in its squad, Nolann Mahoudo and Clément Izquierdo. The management around team boss Cédric Vasseur is aiming for continuous improvement in the WorldTour rankings and wants to establish the team as a permanent fixture in international cycling.