"The whole team did well, especially Émilien Jacquelin" - Noa Isidore praises the biathlete's contribution on way to debut professional victory

The 2026 Tour du Limousin - Périgord - Nouvelle Aquitaine kicked off its 59th edition on Tuesday, featuring a victory by home rider Noa Isidore (Decathlon CMA CGM Team). Isidore, 21, secured his first professional win after being relegated from first place at La Route d'Occitanie earlier in the season. A tailor-made finish, the 175-kilometer stage from Veyrac to Dun-le-Palestel was designed to suit versatile riders with strong finishing abilities, such as Isidore. He described the day as challenging but fitting for the course, especially the slightly uphill finish. "It was a pretty tough day, very tiring, but I knew this course could suit me," he said. "The team trusted me and worked really hard. I thank them; I was determined to finish in the best possible way: with a victory." Isidore’s teammate Émilien Jacquelin, a biathlete, also played a key role in supporting Isidore, earning praise from him: "The whole team wanted to do well, especially Émilien Jacquelin, who, in his second professional race, helped control the breakaway." Isidore’s debut professional victory has been long awaited. In 2026 alone, he finished second on four occasions, including a Volta a Catalunya stage. At La Route d'Occitanie, he initially finished first but was later relegated to 83rd place due to an irregular sprint. This triumph on home soil is significant for the young rider: "I really wanted to win after coming close to success several times. I worked with that motivation to experience that joy again."