Sarreau wins stage 2 in Circuit Sarthe

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Marc Sarreau of Groupama-FDJ avenged himself after losing stage 1 of the Circuit de la Sarthe-Pays de la Loire to Justin Jules (WB Veranclassics). He claimed stage 2 in another bunch gallop with a comfortable margin over runner-up Alex Frame, the neo pro from New Zealand who made his first podium for Trek-Segafredo. The Frenchman also moved into the lead ahead of the queen stage.

"I had thirst for revenge and thirst for winning as well," Sarreau reacted after taking his fourth victory this year following two stages at the Étoile de Bessèges and La Roue Tourangelle last Sunday. "I'm glad I got the first prize today. We played it perfectly today."

Groupama-FDJ let the WB Veranclassics team of the race leader take care of the chase behind Juan Felipe Osorio (Manzana-Postobon) who accompanied Nikolay Mihaylov (Delko Marseille-Provence KTM) as the Bulgarian champion attacked from the gun. The duo got a maximum advantage of 5:05 at kilometer 51 but got reeled in with 60km to go just before tackling the final circuit in Ancenis. The finish line was drawn on the Kirkham boulevard named after the town in Lancashire, not after Don, the first Australian cyclist to participate to the Tour de France along with his fellow compatriot "Snowy" Munro in 1914.

After the regrouping, Groupama-FDJ sent track champion Benjamin Thomas to the front together with François Bidard (AG2R-La Mondiale). They got caught within 3km to go after forcing teams like Vital Concept to chase hard. Bryan Coquard was left with two teammates only as one of them, former FDJ rider Arnaud Courteille, crashed out early in the race. One day after slipping in the last curve, it was another defeat for Coquard who stayed out of the top 15 in the bunch gallop and preferred to not comment.

Sarreau is scheduled for Paris-Roubaix on Sunday. "The Circuit de la Sarthe is not an ideal preparation as it finishes on Friday," he said. "But it was an opportunity for me to try and win something. I was part of Arnaud Démare's train last year and I asked the team to have that job again because he's very grateful to his teammates, but I also asked for sprinting for myself sometimes as I feel matured at the age of 24. I'm glad it pays off."

"Tomorrow's stage is possibly too hard for me, so we won't necessarily defend the yellow jersey but we have other cards to play in the team," Sarreau added.

There's no time trial at the Circuit de la Sarthe-Pays de la Loire this year, giving more chances to climbers to take advantage of the Mont des Avaloirs. Pierre Rolland (EF Education First), Guillaume Martin (Wanty-Groupe Gobert), Julien Simon (Cofidis), Silvan Dillier (AG2R-La Mondiale) and Andrea Vendrame (Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec) are among the riders expected to challenge defending champion Lilian Calmejane (Direct Energie).

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