Benoît Cosnefroy starts new chapter with UAE Team Emirates-XRG for 2026

Benoît Cosnefroy will join UAE Team Emirates-XRG from Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale on a two-year contract beginning in the 2026 season.

“I'm very happy at the prospect of joining UAE Team Emirates–XRG, and very excited to become part of the best team in the world,” said Cosnefroy in a statement released by the team. It marks a significant moment of change for the Frenchman, who has spent his entire professional career with Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, becoming the Under-23 World Champion in Bergen, Norway, shortly after turning professional with the team in 2017.

The 30-year-old from Normandy has endured a difficult 2025 campaign, racing just 13 days after surgery in January delayed his season start until late April. He hasn't competed since abandoning the Tour de Suisse opening stage in June with a knee contusion, but believes he can get back on track with the record-breaking team.

“When Mauro Gianetti explained the project to me, I saw it as the right challenge for me at this point in my career," said Cosnefroy. “From speaking with the team and the ambitions they have, it became clear that it could be a good fit and the right step to take.”

 “I'm eager to begin this new chapter and can't wait to start racing with my new teammate," said Cosnefroy, who still managed to claim a victory in 2025 at the Grand Prix de Morbihan, despite the lack of race days, the 21st win of his professional career.

Cosnefroy will join fellow Frenchman Pavel Sivakov at UAE Team Emirates-XRG and is the team's third confirmed signing for 2026, alongside Adrià Pericas, who steps up from the development squad, and Kevin Vermaerke from Picnic PostNL.