Ewen Costiou has a sparkle in his eyes when talking about the first races of the season. Currently in training with his teammates near Gandia (Province of Valencia), the Arkéa-B&B Hotels runner can't wait to compete against his opponents and very quickly perform well. “I'm happy with my winter, I rode more than in previous years. I think I'm ahead of last year”imagine near DirectVelo the boy already very fit during group training.
The Breton will not have to wait too long before putting on a bib. On January 25, he will be on the roads of the Valencia Grand Prix, for the first pro race of the season in Europe. “The route is interesting. I'm going there without pressure even if the goal is to make the jersey shine as soon as possible. I don't expect to be 100% though”.
Ewen Costiou is the first “good season”. He achieved his goal of winning a race in April, during a stage of the Pays de la Loire Tour region (see its DirectVelo file). “I had a good start to the season, my form was good. At the tactical level, I was not yet up to the task but I improved on it over the course of the season”. He also remembers his participation in the Giro, his first Grand Tour, where “it went well too”.
But at the beginning of June, he suffered a major setback after hitting a truck in training. “It was complicated to manage at first because we didn't really know what I had. It took several tests to realize that my ankle was broken and my back was also affected. It was complicated to return to a period when the guys were all in shape. You can quickly take a shot in competition but the team supported me well. I was able to return faster than expected”. He was able to finish the 2024 financial year on a good note in China, thanks to a 9th place in the general classification of the Tour of Guangxi, in the WorldTour. “It was morally important for winter preparation.”
“WE FEEL THAT THE FUTURE IS UNCERTAIN”
-Ewen Costiou will have great responsibilities this year, even more so after the departure of strong elements from Arkéa-B&B Hôtels like Vincenzo Albanese and Clément Champoussin. The situation does not frighten him, quite the contrary. “The pressure will be even greater for me. I can mess up, like everyone else, but I like the pressure and the role of leader. I am comfortable in this situation, I like to unite people around me”.
The first races will be very important for the future of the Breton team. “We feel that the future is uncertain. The start of the season will influence the rest.” For him, after Valencia, it will be the Challenge de Mallorca, the Tour de la Provence, the Classic Var, the Tour des Alpes-Maritimes, the Trofeo Laigueglia and Paris-Nice. “They will ask me for results, that’s normal. We have to have a great start to the season, for the riders but also for all the people who work on the staff. We have to think about them. I am ready to give my best for everyone. We want to show that the Arkéa-B&B Hôtels team deserves to stay in the WorldTour. But that doesn’t mean anything.”
The 22-year-old runner is no longer there to learn and discover. “Sometimes I have the impression that I was still at Côtes d'Armor six months ago… It seems like nothing, it goes by quickly. Today my role is to win races. In 2025, I have to make a list of myself.” This year, he intends to take a new step at the WorldTour level. “Last year, I showed that I could make Top 10s at a high level but now, I want to do more. I want to score Top 5s or even podiums on WorldTour race stages.”
To achieve his goals, Ewen Costiou develops his skills as a puncher-climber in training with the desire to specialize. “Before, I did everything but this is where I can be best. We’re going to have to work hard”. Which never scared him.
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