Didier Rous: "A young team that needs to be opportunistic"

NewsMay 1, 2024

World Team TeamGIRO D'ITALIA

The average age of the ARKEA-B&B HOTELS team taking part in the Giro d'Italia is 24 years and six months. The 107th Giro d'Italia (May 4-26) will also be the first Grand Tour for 21-year-old Ewen Costiou, 24-year-old Louis Barré and 23-year-old Donavan Grondin.

Mickaël Leveau and Laurent Pichon, team managers of the ARKEA-B&B HOTELS squad for this 107th edition, review the line-up below.

Louis Barré

"Louis Barré's first Grand Tour will be the Giro d'Italia,’ says Mickaël Leveau. He needs to approach these three weeks without any hang-ups, with the desire to push forward and try. It's by having confidence in himself that he'll be able to express himself on the stages that might suit him. Louis needs to believe in his ability as a puncheur. The Giro d'Italia is one of the three Grand Tours that offers the best chances to riders who know how to be daring."

Jenthe Biermans

‘Jenthe will be the road captain for the ARKEA-B&B HOTELS team in this Giro d'Italia. He's an experienced rider who knows how to share his knowledge, particularly with the younger riders,’ says Mickaël Leveau. But that's not all he'll be doing, there will also be opportunities for him to seize when certain stages of the Giro are contested by smaller groups. He's a fast rider who has a feel for the race and often knows how to get the best out of it, and above all he knows how to win. An important asset’.

Ewen Costiou

‘Ewen will be taking part in his first Grand Tour in his second professional season, aged just 21. He showed some good form at the start of the season, notably in Paris-Nice, but this time round at the Giro d'Italia the race time will be multiplied by three. Ewen is here first and foremost to learn, discover and manage the three weeks. But we can also expect some nice surprises from him, just like what he has achieved since the start of 2024. The ARKEA-B&B HOTELS team taking part in this Giro d'Italia is a young one, but the Giro is a race that offers great opportunities to attackers, to riders who like fast-paced races. Ewen belongs to that category. We could be in for some great surprises with him or the other riders in the ARKEA-B&B HOTELS squad taking part in this Giro d'Italia,’ concludes Laurent Pichon.'

David Dekker

"David Dekker will be the sprinter for the ARKEA-B&B HOTELS team in this 107th edition of the Giro d'Italia,’ notes Mickaël Leveau. He knows the race well, having already finished second in a stage in 2023. The aim this year is for him to win a stage. The competition is strong, but he'll have a number of options open to him. His experience of this event and the fact that it suits him are assets that David must exploit."

Donavan Grondin

"Donavan Grondin will be taking part in his first three-week Grand Tour with the Giro d'Italia,’ says Laurent Pichon. He'll be an essential part of our sprinters' squad alongside David Dekker, Jenthe Biermans and Alan Riou. He needs to give it his all in this, his first major Tour, which will also allow him to discover himself as a rider. Donavan always has a smile on his face and is always in a good mood. We know he'll no doubt go through some difficult phases over the three weeks, but it'll be up to him to overcome them, because that's where his margin for improvement lies."

Michel Ries

"Michel Ries will be the road captain for the ARKEA-B&B HOTELS team when the road rises,’ reports Laurent Pichon. This experienced rider has taken part in several Giro and Vuelta races. In particular, he raced in the Giro 2023. Michel will be a great help in terms of presence and advice to our young riders lining up for this three-week event, particularly Ewen Costiou and Louis Barré. He's also a rider who always has a smile on his face and knows how to spread good humour within a group."

Alan Riou

"Alan will be racing his second Giro d'Italia in a row,’ says Laurent Pichon. So he knows where he'll be putting his wheels for the next three weeks. He'll be there to work with the sprinters, and we know that Alan is a rider with a sense of dedication to the team. And if, by any chance, there are difficult weather conditions on this 107th edition of the Giro d'Italia, he won't be the most handicapped of the participants. What's more, his experience of the 2023 Giro should also enable him to take this race up a notch."

Alessandro Verre

"Alessandro will have to go on the offensive on the more challenging stages,’ says Mickaël Leveau, ’particularly those that might be reserved for the puncheurs. He'll also have to be at the service of the team when the race calls for it. Alessandro will be taking part in his second Giro d'Italia, and there's a great deal of motivation in him at the start of his second national grand tour, especially as the race for the second year in a row will be held in Naples, where he raced for a local club as a junior’."

Emmanuel Hubert

General Manager

‘The Giro d'Italia 2024 will be the first Grand Tour to be contested by Ewen Costiou, who has been in the spotlight since the start of the season. Ewen's objective in Italy is above all to learn and gain experience, but that doesn't mean he can't have ambitions. The 107th edition of the Giro d'Italia will also be Louis Barré and Donavan Grondin's first experience of a three-week race. Alessandro Verre, on the other hand, will be taking part for the second time.

Didier Rous

Sports Manager

‘We will have a very young ARKEA-B&B HOTELS team at the start of this 107th edition of the Giro d'Italia. It will be an important stage for Ewen Costiou, Louis Barré and Donavan Grondin. The aim is for them to learn the ropes and finish the race, but that doesn't mean they can't be enterprising and daring if race conditions allow. Our ambition for this Giro will be to focus above all on the stages. We'll be taking it one day at a time, as if we were racing a classic. Our ambition is for our riders to seize their chance as soon as an opportunity presents itself. We have what it takes to do great things in this Giro with this young ARKEA-B&B HOTELS team, which is made up of good riders and more experienced ones, all of whom have already shown great promise since the start of the season.'

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