Ligthart wins Grand Prix La Marseillaise

Pim Ligthart (Lotto Soudal) claimed victory at the Grand Prix La Marseillaise with a well-timed sprint that saw him finish ahead of last year’s winner Kennerth Vanbilsen (Cofidis) and Antoine Demoitié (Wallonie-Bruxelles).

Thibaut Pinot (FDJ.fr) and Romain Bardet (Ag2r-La Mondiale) were among the starters for the traditional curtain-raiser to the French season, which took the peloton on a 140-kilometre loop around the hinterland of Marseille, with five categorised climbs on the agenda.

"The season couldn't have started better. I trained hard this winter and it's fantastic I immediately benefit from it," Ligthart said.

The early break was formed by Conor Dunne (An Post-Chainreaction), Steven Tronet (Auber 93), Frederik Veuchelen (Wanty-Groupe Gobert), Thomas Vaubourzeix (Veranclassic-Ekoi) and Julien Duval (Armée de Terre), and they were later joined by Eoin McCarthy (An Post-Chainreaction).

Their lead touched nine minutes with 100 kilometres remaining but began to melt away thereafter as Bretagne-Séché took up the reins of the pursuit in a bid to set up Romain Feillu for the win, and the leaders were caught inside the final 20 kilometres.

Carlos Quintero (Colombia) tried his luck on the day’s final climb, the Col de la Gineste, and he was later joined a by small group that included Davide Rebellin (CCC-Polsat) but they too were swept up on the run-in to the finish.

In the ensuing sprint in the shadow of the Stade Vélodrome, home of Olympique de Marseille, it was Ligthart who emerged to take his first win since a stage of the Ster ZLM Toer in 2013.

"Our team was relaxed in the bunch and I could save my strengths. Cofidis led the chase and the escapees got caught. I was well positioned and started the sprint," Ligthart said. "I looked next to me a few times and didn't see anyone passing by, so I started to believe in it. It's really nice to win this way."

Results

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Result
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Pim Ligthart (Ned) Lotto Soudal3:39:33
2Kenneth Van Bilsen (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CréditsRow 1 - Cell 2
3Antoine Demoitie (Bel) Wallonie - BruxellesRow 2 - Cell 2
4Baptiste Planckaert (Bel) Roubaix Lille MétropoleRow 3 - Cell 2
5Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Bretagne - Séché EnvironnementRow 4 - Cell 2
6Marco Marcato (Ita) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 5 - Cell 2
7Edward Theuns (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 6 - Cell 2
8Maxime Renault (Fra) Auber 93Row 7 - Cell 2
9Benjamin Giraud (Fra) Team Marseille 13 KTMRow 8 - Cell 2
10Amets Txurruka (Esp) Caja Rural - Seguros RGARow 9 - Cell 2
11Maxime Vantomme (Bel) Roubaix Lille MétropoleRow 10 - Cell 2
12Anthony Maldonado (Fra) Auber 93Row 11 - Cell 2
13Simone Antonini (Ita) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 12 - Cell 2
14Edwin Alcibiades Avila Vanegas (Col) Team ColombiaRow 13 - Cell 2
15Benoit Jarrier (Fra) Bretagne - Séché EnvironnementRow 14 - Cell 2
16Pello Bilbao Lopez De Armentia (Esp) Caja Rural - Seguros RGARow 15 - Cell 2
17Tomasz Kiendys (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 16 - Cell 2
18Carlos Barbero Cuesta (Esp) Caja Rural - Seguros RGARow 17 - Cell 2
19Anthony Delaplace (Fra) Bretagne - Séché EnvironnementRow 18 - Cell 2
20Pieter Vanspeybrouck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 19 - Cell 2
21Arthur Van Overberghe (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 20 - Cell 2
22Thomas Damuseau (Fra) Roubaix Lille MétropoleRow 21 - Cell 2
23Walter Fernando Pedraza Morales (Col) Team ColombiaRow 22 - Cell 2
24Kévin Reza (Fra) FDJRow 23 - Cell 2
25Xandro Meurisse (Bel) An Post - Chain ReactionRow 24 - Cell 2
26Julien El Fares (Fra) Team Marseille 13 KTMRow 25 - Cell 2
27Kevin Ista (Bel) Wallonie - BruxellesRow 26 - Cell 2
28Rémy Di Gregorio (Fra) Team Marseille 13 KTMRow 27 - Cell 2
29Christophe Laporte (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CréditsRow 28 - Cell 2
30Romain Combaud (Fra) Equipe Cycliste Armée de TerreRow 29 - Cell 2
31Quentin Pacher (Fra) Equipe Cycliste Armée de TerreRow 30 - Cell 2
32Yann Guyot (Fra) Equipe Cycliste Armée de TerreRow 31 - Cell 2
33Jimmy Turgis (Fra) Roubaix Lille MétropoleRow 32 - Cell 2
34Fernando Grijalba (Esp) Caja Rural - Seguros RGARow 33 - Cell 2
35Yoann Paillot (Fra) Team Marseille 13 KTMRow 34 - Cell 2
36Florian Vachon (Fra) Bretagne - Séché EnvironnementRow 35 - Cell 2
37Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 36 - Cell 2
38Sander Armee (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 37 - Cell 2
39Kenny Elissonde (Fra) FDJRow 38 - Cell 2
40Conor Dunne (Irl) An Post - Chain ReactionRow 39 - Cell 2
41Julien Loubet (Fra) Team Marseille 13 KTMRow 40 - Cell 2
42Sébastien Delfosse (Bel) Wallonie - BruxellesRow 41 - Cell 2
43Tom Dernies (Bel) Wallonie - BruxellesRow 42 - Cell 2
44Björn Leukemans (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 43 - Cell 2
45Alo Jakin (Est) Auber 93Row 44 - Cell 2
46Frederik Backaert (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 45 - Cell 2
47Davide Rebellin (Ita) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 46 - Cell 2
48Adrian Honkisz (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 47 - Cell 2
49Mikael Cherel (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 48 - Cell 2
50Julien Guay (Fra) Auber 93Row 49 - Cell 2
51Anthony Roux (Fra) FDJRow 50 - Cell 2
52Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 51 - Cell 2
53Kevin Ledanois (Fra) Bretagne - Séché EnvironnementRow 52 - Cell 2
54Stéphane Rossetto (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CréditsRow 53 - Cell 2
55Cyril Gautier (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 54 - Cell 2
56Brayan Ramirez (Col) Team ColombiaRow 55 - Cell 2
57Steven Tronet (Fra) Auber 93Row 56 - Cell 2
58Pierre-Roger Latour (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 57 - Cell 2
59Giovanni Bernaudeau (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 58 - Cell 2
60Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 59 - Cell 2
61Olivier Chevalier (Bel) Wallonie - BruxellesRow 60 - Cell 2
62Maxime Monfort (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 61 - Cell 2
63Carlos Quintero (Col) Team ColombiaRow 62 - Cell 2
64Gert Jõeäär (Est) Cofidis, Solutions CréditsRow 63 - Cell 2
65Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 64 - Cell 2
66Rudy Molard (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CréditsRow 65 - Cell 2
67Pieter Jacobs (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 66 - Cell 2
68Floris De Tier (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 67 - Cell 2
69Flavien Dassonville (Fra) Auber 93Row 68 - Cell 2
70Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJRow 69 - Cell 2
71Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto SoudalRow 70 - Cell 2
72Thomas Vaubourzeix (Fra) Veranclassic - EkoiRow 71 - Cell 2
73Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJRow 72 - Cell 2
74Sean De Bie (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 73 - Cell 2
75Jerome Cousin (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 74 - Cell 2
76Théo Vimpere (Fra) Auber 93Row 75 - Cell 2
77Boris Dron (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 76 - Cell 2
78Vegard Breen (Nor) Lotto SoudalRow 77 - Cell 2
79Clement Saint Martin (Fra) Team Marseille 13 KTMRow 78 - Cell 2
80Romain Guillemois (Fra) Team Europcar0:00:24
81Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Crédits0:00:56
82Fabricio Ferrari Barcelo (Uru) Caja Rural - Seguros RGA0:01:21
83Jimmy Raibaud (Fra) Equipe Cycliste Armée de Terre0:01:23
84Evaldas Siskevicius (Ltu) Team Marseille 13 KTM0:02:37
85Omar Fraile (Esp) Caja Rural - Seguros RGA0:04:33
86Leonardo Fabio Duque (Col) Team Colombia0:05:33
87Arnaud Courteille (Fra) FDJRow 86 - Cell 2
88Antoine Warnier (Bel) Wallonie - BruxellesRow 87 - Cell 2
89Nikolay Mihaylov (Bul) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 88 - Cell 2
90Paulius Siskevicius (Ltu) An Post - Chain ReactionRow 89 - Cell 2
91Serge Dewortelaer (Bel) Veranclassic - EkoiRow 90 - Cell 2
92Matthieu Boulo (Fra) Bretagne - Séché EnvironnementRow 91 - Cell 2
93Yoann Barbas (Fra) Equipe Cycliste Armée de TerreRow 92 - Cell 2
94Julien Duval (Fra) Equipe Cycliste Armée de TerreRow 93 - Cell 2
95Julien Antomarchi (Fra) Roubaix Lille MétropoleRow 94 - Cell 2
96Carlos Mario Ramirez Botero (Col) Team ColombiaRow 95 - Cell 2
97Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 96 - Cell 2
98Hugo Houle (Can) AG2R La MondialeRow 97 - Cell 2
99Angel Madrazo Ruiz (Esp) Caja Rural - Seguros RGARow 98 - Cell 2
100Romain Feillu (Fra) Bretagne - Séché Environnement0:11:53
101Jorge Camilo Castiblanco Cubides (Col) Team ColombiaRow 100 - Cell 2
102Branislau Samoilau (Blr) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 101 - Cell 2
103Rudy Barbier (Fra) Roubaix Lille MétropoleRow 102 - Cell 2
104Benoît Sinner (Fra) Equipe Cycliste Armée de TerreRow 103 - Cell 2
105Sebastián Molano (Col) Team ColombiaRow 104 - Cell 2
106Jens Vandenbogaerde (Bel) An Post - Chain ReactionRow 105 - Cell 2
107Kevin Van Melsen (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 106 - Cell 2
108Ryan Mullen (Irl) An Post - Chain ReactionRow 107 - Cell 2
109Jerome Mainard (Fra) Equipe Cycliste Armée de TerreRow 108 - Cell 2
110Maxime Daniel (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 109 - Cell 2
111Alexandre Blain (Fra) Team Marseille 13 KTMRow 110 - Cell 2
112Pierre Gouault (Fra) Auber 93Row 111 - Cell 2
113Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 112 - Cell 2
114Gregory Habeaux (Bel) Wallonie - BruxellesRow 113 - Cell 2
115Anthony Geslin (Fra) FDJRow 114 - Cell 2
116Mateusz Taciak (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 115 - Cell 2
117Alistair Slater (GBr) An Post - Chain ReactionRow 116 - Cell 2
118Anthony Turgis (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CréditsRow 117 - Cell 2
119Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) FDJRow 118 - Cell 2
120Oliver Naesen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 119 - Cell 2
121Bert Van Lerberghe (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 120 - Cell 2
122Kris Boeckmans (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 121 - Cell 2
123Eliot Lietaer (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 122 - Cell 2
124Miguel Angel Benito (Esp) Caja Rural - Seguros RGARow 123 - Cell 2
125Jean-Marc Bideau (Fra) Bretagne - Séché EnvironnementRow 124 - Cell 2
DNFFrancesco Van Coppernolle (Bel) Veranclassic - EkoiRow 125 - Cell 2
DNFGorik Gardeyn (Bel) Veranclassic - EkoiRow 126 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Van Staeyen (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CréditsRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFAlexander Maes (Can) An Post - Chain ReactionRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFEoin McCarthy (Fra) An Post - Chain ReactionRow 129 - Cell 2
DNFRoy Jans (Fra) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 130 - Cell 2
DNFThomas Wertz (Bel) Wallonie - BruxellesRow 131 - Cell 2
DNFMarek Rutkiewicz (Bel) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 132 - Cell 2
DNFAlexis Gougeard (Bel) AG2R La MondialeRow 133 - Cell 2
DNFYohann Gene (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 134 - Cell 2
DNFRobin Stenuit (Bel) Veranclassic - EkoiRow 135 - Cell 2
DNFTimothy Dupont (Bel) Roubaix Lille MétropoleRow 136 - Cell 2
DNFEdwig Cammaerts (Bel) Veranclassic - EkoiRow 137 - Cell 2
DNFRomain Pillon (Bel) Roubaix Lille MétropoleRow 138 - Cell 2
DNFAntoine Duchesne (Irl) Team EuropcarRow 139 - Cell 2
DNFStefan Schumacher (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 140 - Cell 2
DNFSébastien Rosseler (Ger) Veranclassic - EkoiRow 141 - Cell 2
DNFJustin Jules (Bel) Veranclassic - EkoiRow 142 - Cell 2

 

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