News VIP 03

For its 20th anniversary, Ekoi decided to launch the crazy and exciting idea of creating, with friends from the prestigious Italian brand De Rosa, an exceptional limited edition bicycle. A carbon gem that will only be manufactured in 300 copies numbered from 1 to 300.
First offered to members of the VIP Ekoi Club, this bike materializes my desire to offer my cycling friends what constitutes the very essence of my romantic and innovative vision of cycling, by respecting the artisanal dimension of the mythical brand created in 1953 by the legendary Ugo De Rosa, and by giving the choice between two colors, pearly white or matt black.
Available on reservation from mid-May, these exceptional bikes designed by an artist, will be sold at the price of 5,000 euros.

I personally got the first copy, fitted with a Campagnolo group and Fulcrum wheels, in the De Rosa workshops in Milan. With emotion and pride, since it was from the hands of Signor Ugo and his son Cristiano that I received this ‘superb lines’ object of art, as a signal sent to all enthusiasts…

General manager of the Cofidis team after having been a talented professional rider and a wise TV commentator, the northerner Cédric Vasseur wants to make his collective a team and not just a sum of individuals. In 2021, his project seems to be on track for success. With victories but also with hopes ...

Cédric, two good news for the Cofidis team at the start of the 2021 season. On the one hand, the first victory for ex-European Champion Elia Viviani under your colors. On the other hand, Cofidis management announced the extension of the sponsorship contract until 2025.

Indeed, two good news which come to consolidate the team and to reaffirm the presence in the peloton of one of the oldest professional teams since Cofidis arrived in pro cycling in 1996. Thierry Vittu, our President, even announced the increase of our budget up to an additional 1.5 million euros. This should allow us to strengthen ourselves further. Because our ambitions are both to shine on the Tour de France with our climber Guillaume Martin, but also on national or international classics with our duo Christophe Laporte and Elia Viviani.

Since your arrival, the Cofidis team functioning has undeniably changed. With in particular a permanent questioning of executives and riders, a technical upgrade and the contribution of exceptional skills. There is even talk of a ‘cultural revolution.’

Having ambitions is nice, but it is not enough. Extremely effective managerial and technical foundations are needed to allow the collective to flourish and aim for the podiums or, better yet, victory. The arrival of talented sports directors like Roberto Damiani and Thierry Marichal is undeniably a plus : like having one of the best bikes in the world with De Rosa, Campagnolo and Fulcrum, and working on the equipment with a high-performance company like Ekoi, whose glasses and helmets offer the best in comfort, style and safety.
Regarding Ekoi, I want to underline the passion of its President J-C. Rattel and the ability of his company to imagine and implement permanent innovation. As an anecdote, I can tell you that I ride myself with an Ekoi helmet and glasses.

How do you rate the state of mind of your runners today?

- I did everything to free their minds from negative stress and technical problems. All they have to do is take advantage of our structures to give the best. And I believe in it. Especially since we have with Elia a genuine champion who has already won over 80 victories. And that Laporte realized his real importance in classics and weeklong stage races. As for Martin, I see in him nothing less than a potential Bardet or Pinot. He only has to progress a little bit to get there. In good form he is already capable of competing up to the kilometer with Roglic or Pogacar. He can become the new darling of the French public.

Revealed on the steep roads of the last Vuelta, with a best climber's jersey, Guillaume Martin intends to take his place among the greats of the international peloton alongside his national rivals Thibaud Pinot and Romain Bardet and to achieve Richard Virenque mountain performances.

Guillaume, what do you think of the statements of the great Ugo De Rosa who says that you could become the new great French climber and follow in the footsteps of Richard Virenque?

I am truly honored by this statement. Especially since Signor Ugo De Rosa has been regarded for decades as one of the most prestigious builders in the world. Eddy Merckx even describes him as the greatest of all. I am lucky to have De Rosa bikes, which are also mounted in Campagnolo. The Grail for a runner! So Ugo De Rosa's opinion flatters and encourages me at the same time. I'm still a long way from Virenque and his seven polka-dot jerseys on the Tour. But I will do everything to prove De Rosa is right. And also to realize my dreams of victories on the roads of the Grand Tours. That doesn't mean that I'm only going to focus on the top climber's jersey, stage victories are also a goal. And why not also a good place overall. In fact the shape of the moment and the course of the race will decide.

After your performances in the 2020 season, how are you approaching 2021? And what do you think of your opponents and their abilities in the mountains?

I am really well supported by the whole Cofidis team. We have planned several specific trainings, especially in the mountains. And physically I feel my best. At 27, I feel that I can still improve. In fact, in the big passes I usually switch with only few seconds on the big names like Roglic, Bernal or Pogacar. If I can follow them to the top everything could change. I believe it ! I have already done 3 in the Dauphiné and 3 more in the Ventoux. And this year 6 in Paris Nice. I have no problem with anyone. I work hard in training and I think it can pay off. I'm not super impressed with Roglic and Pogacar, even though they are impressive...

Some people compare you to Laurent Fignon who in his time was considered the intellectual of the peloton. Probably a reference to your university course, and to your reviews for Le Monde ; not to mention your published books...

I have a Masters in Philosophy, but from there I think of myself as a nerd. It would be a bit of a caricature. Let’s say that I am interested in culture and thinking. I claim my personal performances, nothing more, even if I am preparing a new book which should be released at the end of the year by Editions Grasset.

Your team, your manufacturer, your equipment manufacturers, all affirm their confidence in you and evoke a bright future about you.

I know that and I absolutely want to live up to their trust. Cédric Vasseur, the General Manager of Cofidis believes in me and we exchange a lot. Same thing with Cristiano De Rosa and with the engineers of Campagnolo. And I greatly appreciate the ongoing technical dialogue with Jean-Christophe Rattel and his employees at Ekoi. With all the staff as with my teammates, the dialogue is permanent. All to be in the best possible conditions to aim high and straight.

La collaboration technique étroite engagée par Ekoi avec les teams professionnels partenaires porte déjà ses fruits. Près d’une dizaine de victoires et encore plus de places d’honneur depuis le début de la saison 2021.
Cofidis, Lotto Soudal, Qhubeka Assos, Saint-Michel, KMC Orbea, have thus recorded promising successes.
Christophe Laporte (Cofidis) won on the first stage of the Etoile de Bessèges, Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal) won the 3rd stage and the general classification of the same event. European Champion Giacomo Nizzolo (Qhubeka Assos) was the first to cross the Classica de Almeria line.
Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) overcame strong opposition on the final stage of the UAE Tour. Mountain biker Victor Koretzky (KMC Orbea) also won the Copa Catalunya Banyoles. Romain Cardis (Saint-Michel) won the Classic Paris-Troyes. Andréas Kron (Lotto Soudal) won the 1st stage of Tour of Catalonia. Former European Champion and Olympic Champion Elia Viviani (Cofidis) made his comeback by winning the Coupe de France classic Cholet-Pays de Loire. Thomas de Gendt (Lotto Soudal) won the last stage of the Tour of Catalonia. And of course the best is yet to come.

Lotto Soudal (helmets and sunglasses) - Qhubeka Assos (helmets) - Arkea Samsic (textile and helmets) - Cofidis (helmets and sunglasses) - Euskaltel Euskadi (helmets and sunglasses) - Saint-Michel Auber (textile and sunglasses) - KMC Orbea ( textile, helmets, sunglasses )

Philippe Gilbert - Elia Viviani - Nacer Bouhanni - Nairo Quintana - Warren Barguil - Caleb Ewan

Freddy Maertens - Claudio Chiapucci - Laurent Jalabert - Pedro Delgado - Miguel Indurain