Barguil wins French national title

Warren Barguil pulls on the tricolour as champion of France

Warren Barguil pulls on the tricolour as champion of France (Image credit: Jean-François Quénet)

Warren Barguil delivered his first victory for Arkéa-Samsic and his first since he won stage 18 atop the Col d'Izoard in the polka dot jersey at the 2017 Tour de France. He took a seven-man sprint ahead of Julien Simon and Damien Touzé, both from Cofidis, after late attacks from Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ) and Guillaume Martin (Wanty-Groupe Gobert).

"This brings a lot of emotions after I almost quit cycling," Barguil reacted. "I’ve gone through hard times, I’ve been affected by criticisms and I’m thankful to the people who supported me throughout these difficult days, not to the people who only cheered on me when I was at my best."

Barguil was part of the group of 37 riders who rode away in the third of the 15 laps around La Haye-Fouassière in the Muscadet wine producing area near Nantes. WorldTour teams Groupama-FDJ and AG2R La Mondiale had six riders each, just like Arkéa-Samsic. The biggest names up the road were Madouas, David Gaudu and newly crowned French time trial champion Benjamin Thomas (both Groupama-FDJ), whereas AG2R La Mondiale had Alexis Gougeard and Pierre Latour. Pierre Rolland (Vital Concept-B&B Hôtels) was also in the mix.

Their advantage was 3:30 with 150km to go. Total Direct Energie was obviously not satisfied with the composition of the breakaway, having Perrig Quémeneur, Angelo Tulik, Paul Ourselin and Mathieu Burgaudeau in the front group but not Anthony Turgis, who was last year’s runner up. With 100km remaining, Groupama-FDJ relayed Total and suddenly brought the gap down to 1:55..

Arkéa-Samsic also chased at some stages but an attack by Gaudu with 80km to go made the breakaway alive again. The lead group was reduced to 23 riders and the gap went up again: 3:35 with 65km left to race.

"I always believed that we could stay away until the end if we kept three to four minutes lead before the last hour," Barguil said. "All my team-mates at the front were committed to help me win. Our road captain Florian Vachon made me calm two or three times when I rode too generously and I was pissed off with some riders who didn’t cooperate."

With 40km to go, four top riders attacked from the peloton: Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ), Anthony Turgis (Total Direct Energie), Elie Gesbert (Arkéa-Samsic) and Benoît Cosnefroy (AG2R-La Mondiale). After they were reined in due to a lack of cooperation, Pinot went again. Inside 20km to go, he was close to bridging the gap along with Rolland, who had been dropped from the front group, but it didn’t happen.

His teammate Madouas, who finished 13th overall in the Giro d’Italia, went by himself from the break with 7km to go. He stayed alone in the lead for 4km. Barguil and Martin were next to attack. "Martin made us lose the title," Simon deplored. "I raised my hand up in the air to ask Damien [Touzé] to ride behind him and we launched our sprint too early."

Barguil said that he "knew that a championship isn’t necessarily won by the fastest rider in the finale”, and duly claimed the spoils. He already had a French championship under his belt as he won solo in the junior ranks 10 years ago in Vendôme. In 2009, it was also the only other victory in the French Elite championship for Arkéa-Samsic that was then named Bretagne-Schuller and ranked a continental team, as Dimitri Champion outclassed the FDJ block. In 23 attempts since their inception in 1997, Cofidis are yet to bring the blue-white-red jersey home.

Full results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Arkea-Samsic5:54:36
2Julien Simon (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 1 - Cell 2
3Damien Touze (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 2 - Cell 2
4Angelo Tulik (Fra) Total Direct EnergieRow 3 - Cell 2
5Valentin Madouas (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 4 - Cell 2
6Quentin Pacher (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B HotelsRow 5 - Cell 2
7Guillaume Martin (Fra) Wanty-Gobert Cycling Team0:00:02
8Cyril Gautier (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B Hotels0:00:21
9Paul Ourselin (Fra) Total Direct EnergieRow 8 - Cell 2
10Anthony Turgis (Fra) Total Direct Energie0:01:10
11Arnaud Demare (Fra) Groupama-FDJ0:01:18
12Clement Venturini (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 11 - Cell 2
13Anthony Roux (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 12 - Cell 2
14Alexis Vuillermoz (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 13 - Cell 2
15Maxime Bouet (Fra) Team Arkea-SamsicRow 14 - Cell 2
16Kevin Le Cunff (Fra) St Michel-Auber 93Row 15 - Cell 2
17Mikael Cherel (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 16 - Cell 2
18Rudy Molard (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 17 - Cell 2
19Stéphane Rossetto (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 18 - Cell 2
20Julien El Fares (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence0:01:24
21Samuel Leroux (Fra) Natura4Ever-Roubaix-Lille MetropoleRow 20 - Cell 2
22Anthony Delaplace (Fra) Team Arkea-SamsicRow 21 - Cell 2
23Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 22 - Cell 2
24Thomas Boudat (Fra) Total Direct EnergieRow 23 - Cell 2
25Jérémy Leveau (Fra) Delko Marseille ProvenceRow 24 - Cell 2
26Clément Russo (Fra) Team Arkea-SamsicRow 25 - Cell 2
27Anthony Maldonado (Fra) St Michel-Auber 93Row 26 - Cell 2
28Nans Peters (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 27 - Cell 2
29Franck Bonnamour (Fra) Team Arkea-SamsicRow 28 - Cell 2
30Christophe Laporte (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 29 - Cell 2
31Fabien Schmidt (Fra) Delko Marseille ProvenceRow 30 - Cell 2
32Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 31 - Cell 2
33Julien Trarieux (Fra) Delko Marseille ProvenceRow 32 - Cell 2
34Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 33 - Cell 2
35Rémi Cavagna (Fra) Deceuninck - Quick-StepRow 34 - Cell 2
36Geoffrey Soupe (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 35 - Cell 2
37Lilian Calmejane (Fra) Total Direct EnergieRow 36 - Cell 2
38Elie Gesbert (Fra) Team Arkea-SamsicRow 37 - Cell 2
39Bryan Coquard (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B HotelsRow 38 - Cell 2
40Mathias Le Turnier (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 39 - Cell 2
41Anthony Perez (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:01:32
42Mathieu Burgaudeau (Fra) Total Direct Energie0:01:34
43Thibaut Pinot (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 42 - Cell 2
44Pierre Rolland (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B HotelsRow 43 - Cell 2
45Morgan Kneisky (Fra) Groupama-FDJ0:02:16
46Clément Chevrier (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 45 - Cell 2
47Adrien Guillonnet (Fra) Interpro Cycling AcademyRow 46 - Cell 2
48Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 47 - Cell 2
49Romain Combaud (Fra) Delko Marseille ProvenceRow 48 - Cell 2
50Laurent Pichon (Fra) Team Arkea-SamsicRow 49 - Cell 2
51Rémy Rochas (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence0:02:45
52Alexis Gougeard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 51 - Cell 2
53Dorian Godon (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 52 - Cell 2
54Pierre Luc Perichon (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 53 - Cell 2
55Camille Thominet (Fra) St Michel-Auber 93Row 54 - Cell 2
56Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 55 - Cell 2
57Kevin Ledanois (Fra) Team Arkea-SamsicRow 56 - Cell 2
58Geoffrey Bouchard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 57 - Cell 2
59Bruno Armirail (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 58 - Cell 2
60Kevin Reza (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B Hotels0:03:11
61Romain Hardy (Fra) Team Arkea-Samsic0:07:34
62Brice Feillu (Fra) Team Arkea-SamsicRow 61 - Cell 2
63Julien Morice (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B HotelsRow 62 - Cell 2
64Julien Antomarchi (Fra) Natura4Ever-Roubaix-Lille MetropoleRow 63 - Cell 2
65Johan Le Bon (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B Hotels0:09:19
66Corentin Ermenault (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B HotelsRow 65 - Cell 2
67Christophe Masson (Fra) Natura4Ever-Roubaix-Lille Metropole0:09:32
68Pierre Gouault (Fra) Natura4Ever-Roubaix-Lille MetropoleRow 67 - Cell 2
69Olivier Le Gac (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 68 - Cell 2
70Corentin Navarro (Fra) Team Wiggins LeColRow 69 - Cell 2
71Pierre Latour (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:11:26
72Quentin Jauregui (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 71 - Cell 2
73Rudy Barbier (Fra) Israel Cycling Academy0:14:18
74Théo Nonnez (Fra) Groupama-FDJ0:15:22
75Florian Hudry (Fra) Interpro Cycling Academy0:15:23
76Jimmy Turgis (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B HotelsRow 75 - Cell 2
77Lucas De Rossi (Fra) Delko Marseille ProvenceRow 76 - Cell 2
78Benjamin Thomas (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 77 - Cell 2
79Loic Chetout (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:17:16
80Nicolas Baldo (Fra) St Michel-Auber 930:17:17
81Gauthier Navarro (Fra) Interpro Cycling Academy0:21:17
DNFAdrien Petit (Fra) Total Direct EnergieRow 81 - Cell 2
DNFHugo Hofstetter (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 82 - Cell 2
DNFTony Gallopin (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 83 - Cell 2
DNFJerome Cousin (Fra) Total Direct EnergieRow 84 - Cell 2
DNFJérémy Maison (Fra) Team Arkea-SamsicRow 85 - Cell 2
DNFAlexandre Geniez (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 86 - Cell 2
DNFDavid Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 87 - Cell 2
DNFPierre Barbier (Fra) Natura4Ever-Roubaix-Lille MetropoleRow 88 - Cell 2
DNFMaxime Daniel (Fra) Team Arkea-SamsicRow 89 - Cell 2
DNFBenoit Cosnefroy (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 90 - Cell 2
DNFMaxime Cam (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B HotelsRow 91 - Cell 2
DNFLorrenzo Manzin (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B HotelsRow 92 - Cell 2
DNFYoann Offredo (Fra) Wanty-Gobert Cycling TeamRow 93 - Cell 2
DNFSimon Guglielmi (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 94 - Cell 2
DNFFlavien Maurelet (Fra) St Michel-Auber 93Row 95 - Cell 2
DNFAurélien Paret Peintre (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 96 - Cell 2
DNFThibault Ferasse (Fra) Natura4Ever-Roubaix-Lille MetropoleRow 97 - Cell 2
DNFFabien Doubey (Fra) Wanty-Gobert Cycling TeamRow 98 - Cell 2
DNFPierre Idjouadiene (Fra) Natura4Ever-Roubaix-Lille MetropoleRow 99 - Cell 2
DNFAdrien Garel (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B HotelsRow 100 - Cell 2
DNFMarc Sarreau (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 101 - Cell 2
DNFBenoit Vaugrenard (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 102 - Cell 2
DNFLéo Vincent (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 103 - Cell 2
DNFFrançois Bidard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 104 - Cell 2
DNFFabien Grellier (Fra) Total Direct EnergieRow 105 - Cell 2
DNFAlan Riou (Fra) Team Arkea-SamsicRow 106 - Cell 2
DNFFlorian Vachon (Fra) Team Arkea-SamsicRow 107 - Cell 2
DNFAlexis Guerin (Fra) Delko Marseille ProvenceRow 108 - Cell 2
DNFRomain Feillu (Fra) St Michel-Auber 93Row 109 - Cell 2
DNFArnaud Courteille (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B HotelsRow 110 - Cell 2
DNFClement Davy (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 111 - Cell 2
DNFThibault Guernalec (Fra) Team Arkea-SamsicRow 112 - Cell 2
DNFJulien Duval (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 113 - Cell 2
DNFWilliam Bonnet (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 114 - Cell 2
DNFRomain Sicard (Fra) Total Direct EnergieRow 115 - Cell 2
DNFMickael Delage (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 116 - Cell 2
DNFPerrig Quemeneur (Fra) Total Direct EnergieRow 117 - Cell 2
DNFBenoit Jarrier (Fra) Team Arkea-SamsicRow 118 - Cell 2
DNFTony Hurel (Fra) St Michel-Auber 93Row 119 - Cell 2
DNFRomain Le Roux (Fra) Team Arkea-SamsicRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFAmael Moinard (Fra) Team Arkea-SamsicRow 121 - Cell 2
DNFEmmanuel Morin (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 122 - Cell 2
DNFRomain Seigle (Fra) Groupama-FDJRow 123 - Cell 2
DNFJustin Mottier (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B HotelsRow 124 - Cell 2
DNFDamien Gaudin (Fra) Total Direct EnergieRow 125 - Cell 2
DNFYohann Gene (Fra) Total Direct EnergieRow 126 - Cell 2
DNFYoann Paillot (Fra) St Michel-Auber 93Row 127 - Cell 2
DNFSamuel Dumoulin (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFRomain Cardis (Fra) Total Direct EnergieRow 129 - Cell 2
DNFBryan Nauleau (Fra) Total Direct EnergieRow 130 - Cell 2
DNFJérémy Lecroq (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B HotelsRow 131 - Cell 2
DNFAlexandre Pichot (Fra) Total Direct EnergieRow 132 - Cell 2
DNFYoann Bagot (Fra) Vital Concept-B&B HotelsRow 133 - Cell 2
DNFAxel Journiaux (Fra) Total Direct EnergieRow 134 - Cell 2
DNFLuis Javelly (Fra) Start Cycling TeamRow 135 - Cell 2
DNFJonathan Hivert (Fra) Total Direct EnergieRow 136 - Cell 2
DNFGabriel Muller (Fra) Team Differdange GebaRow 137 - Cell 2
DNFVictor Lafay (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 138 - Cell 2

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