After a powerful third place on stage 2 of Tour de l’Ain, his first race as a stagiaire with Cofidis, Jamie Meehan signed a three-year skilled contract with the French WorldTour workforce.
The Irish U23 street race champion claimed his first podium in his first race with Cofidis, successful the dash from a seven-rider chase group within the Jura mountains. He finally completed 14th general and third in one of the best younger rider classification on the finish of the three-day stage race.
The Cofidis workforce stated in a launch that “these distinctive performances go hand in hand along with his capability to adapt in a short time to the workforce’s operations. Within the wake of this, the sporting administration, led by Cédric Vasseur, determined to take a uncommon step: providing him a contract for the following three years.”
“This contract is actually unimaginable. For me, it is a dream come true. I’ve skilled for thus lengthy, I’ve fought for years to have the ability to expertise this second. Clearly, it is one thing very highly effective. The Tour de l’Ain will stay in my reminiscence for a very long time. I actually loved discovering the workforce, integrating into it, and I actually needed to be taught. I did not assume I might make a podium in a stage.” Meehan stated.
“However by managing to remain within the wheel of one of the best, I informed myself that perhaps there was an opportunity to play! I think about myself a climber, I like powerful races, demanding climbs. With Cofidis, I wish to proceed studying, and I’ll do all the things to assist my teammates.”
After becoming a member of the AVC Aix-en-Provence Dole continental workforce in 2025, Meehan soloed to victory on the French Cup race, Roger Walkowiak Trophy, and claimed second on a stage of the Alpes Isere Tour, and two third locations on the Tour du Piémont Pyrénéen Problem 1 and Problem 2. He additionally completed second general and claimed one of the best younger rider jersey on the five-day Rás Tailteann.
Meehan joins many different riders, akin to Christophe Laporte, Anthony Pérez and extra lately Oliver Knight and Clément Izquierdo, who’ve graduated from AVC Aix-en-Provence to Cofidis up to now.
Meehan will likely be initially of La Polynormande on Sunday. He’ll then race the Tour de l’Avenir as a part of the Irish Nationwide workforce earlier than returning to race with Cofidis.