Gaudin wins Tro-Bro Leon

Damien Gaudin (Armée de Terre) sealed the victory in Monday's Tro-Bro Léon, out-sprinting Frederik Backaert (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) out of the two man breakaway. Benjamin Giraud (Delko Marseille) won the sprint for third.

The leading duo had just seconds on the peloton as they rode under the 1km-to-go to go banner, but they managed to hold off the sprint behind by seven seconds. It was Gaudin's second win of a renaissance season that also included a stage victory in the Tour de Normandie. Before stepping down from the WorldTour this season, Gaudin's last win was the Cholet - Pays De Loire in 2013.

The former AG2R-La Mondiale rider wanted to prove himself on the gravel roads of Brittany one week after Paris-Roubaix as he missed his favorite classic due to his relegation in a third division team. He did so emphatically at Tro-Bro Léon, claiming Armée de Terre's second win in the French Cup series in three days after Julien Loubet came first at the Tour du Finistère on Saturday.

"Cycling is a difficult sport," Gaudin commented after his win. "When you work in the shadow with no reward, it's a pain in the arse. Last week I was so bitter that I didn't even watch TV. I went to train hard instead because I wanted to show that Gaudin can still be a bike rider. I looked at the results of Paris-Roubaix in the evening though."

When he did get around to checking the final standings, Gaudin would see the names of Greg Van Avermaet and Zdenek Stybar in the first two positions; when Gaudin finished fifth in Roubaix in 2013, Van Avermaet was fourth and Stybar sixth. Then riding for Europcar, Gaudin joined AG2R-La Mondiale for the following three seasons but his contract wasn't renewed at the end of last year, hence his move to the Armée de Terre, the Continental team of the French army.

"During the off season, I told them that the Tro-Bro Léon would be our Paris-Roubaix this year, as we don't qualify for Paris-Roubaix as a continental team," Gaudin said. "End of March and April is always my best period. After the GP Denain on Thursday, I flew to Brest to prepare for the Tro-Bro Léon the same way I used to prepare for Paris-Roubaix. I reconned the whole 180km of the course."

"In 2013, I won the prologue of Paris-Nice and Cholet-Pays de Loire, which is my home race," he said. "But today it's my most beautiful victory. The Tro-Bro Léon is mythical. It's a second Paris-Roubaix." Aged 30, the Frenchman hasn't given up his dreams in the Hell of the North. "I've come fifth in Roubaix, I can make the podium, I can even win it one day," he insisted.

A few minutes after winning Tro-Bro Léon, he received a congratulatory message from French defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who has been a driving force behind the army team. The manner in which Gaudin claimed Monday's win was a convincing one, as he rode away with 50 kilometres to go.

"When I found myself at the front with Frederik Backaert, I knew he was someone who rides hard like me," he said. "He was the right companion to have. Only in the last lap he wasn't pulling anymore."

With FDJ doing most of the work and mainly Matthieu Ladagnous chasing to bridge the gap for a sprint finish to favor Arnaud Démare, the leading duo was just 15 seconds ahead with three kilometres to go. "I thought we'd come across because FDJ and AG2R-La Mondiale both rode for that," third-placed Benjamin Giraud of told Cyclingnews. "They were very strong at the front. I'm very happy to be third."

Backaert, on the other hand, wasn't content wth his podium spot. "I'm very disappointed because the Tro-Bro Léon is the nicest race of the year for me," he said. "I don't know how to sprint. Maybe I sprinted from too far out."

Laurent Pichon of Fortuneo-Vital Concept finished fourth to retain the lead in the French Cup standings.

Full Results

Swipe to scroll horizontally
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Damien Gaudin (Fra) Armee de Terre4:50:22
2Frederik Backaert (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert0:00:02
3Benjamin Giraud (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTM0:00:07
4Laurent Pichon (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 3 - Cell 2
5Kevin Le Cunff (Fra) HP BTP - Auber 93Row 4 - Cell 2
6Mathias De Witte (Bel) Cibel - CebonRow 5 - Cell 2
7Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJRow 6 - Cell 2
8Damien Touze (Fra) HP BTP - Auber 93Row 7 - Cell 2
9Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 8 - Cell 2
10Hugo Hofstetter (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 9 - Cell 2
11Fabien Canal (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 10 - Cell 2
12Julien Loubet (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 11 - Cell 2
13Evaldas Siskevicius (Ltu) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 12 - Cell 2
14Guillaume Levarlet (Fra) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 13 - Cell 2
15Erwann Corbel (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 14 - Cell 2
16Anthony Delaplace (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 15 - Cell 2
17Rudy Barbier (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 16 - Cell 2
18Mikel Iturria Segurola (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country - MuriasRow 17 - Cell 2
19Perrig Quemeneur (Fra) Direct Energie0:00:10
20Pierre Luc Perichon (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 19 - Cell 2
21Stijn Devolder (Bel) Veranda's Willems CrelanRow 20 - Cell 2
22Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:00:27
23Mickael Delage (Fra) FDJ0:00:35
24Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) FDJ0:01:08
25Nans Peters (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:01:12
26Mihkel Räim (Est) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 25 - Cell 2
27Dimitri Claeys (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:01:14
28Félix Pouilly (Fra) Roubaix - Lille Metropole0:01:42
29Thibault Ferasse (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 28 - Cell 2
30Jimmy Turgis (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 29 - Cell 2
31Alo Jakin (Est) HP BTP - Auber 93Row 30 - Cell 2
32Angel Madrazo (Spa) Delko Marseille Provence KTM0:01:44
33Connor Swift (GBr) Madison GenesisRow 32 - Cell 2
34Olivier Le Gac (Fra) FDJ0:01:49
35Hugo Houle (Can) AG2R La Mondiale0:01:51
36Gaetan Bille (Bel) Veranda's Willems Crelan0:04:08
37Carl Fredrik Hagen (Nor) Joker Icopal0:04:11
38Zakkari Dempster (Aus) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 37 - Cell 2
39Jeremy Cornu (Fra) Direct Energie0:04:16
40Torkil Veyhe (Den) Coloquick - Cult0:04:23
41Dennis Bakker (Ned) Delta Cycling Rotterdam0:05:23
42Jimmy Janssens (Bel) Cibel - Cebon0:05:28
43Thierry Hupond (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 42 - Cell 2
44Aitor Gonzalez (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country - MuriasRow 43 - Cell 2
45Jonathan McEvoy (GBr) Madison GenesisRow 44 - Cell 2
46Kevin De Jonghe (Bel) Cibel - CebonRow 45 - Cell 2
47Romain Cardis (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 46 - Cell 2
48Robby Cobbaert (Bel) Cibel - CebonRow 47 - Cell 2
49Beñat Txoperena Matxikote (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country - MuriasRow 48 - Cell 2
50Arnaud Gerard (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 49 - Cell 2
51Jérémy Lecroq (Fra) Roubaix - Lille MetropoleRow 50 - Cell 2
52Joeri Stallaert (Bel) Cibel - CebonRow 51 - Cell 2
53Thomas Boudat (Fra) Direct Energie0:05:33
54Gediminas Bagdonas (Ltu) AG2R La Mondiale0:08:37
55Jetse Bol (Ned) Manzana PostobonRow 54 - Cell 2
56Ike Groen (Ned) Delta Cycling Rotterdam0:09:17
57Kenny Dehaes (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert0:10:23
58Martin Mortensen (Den) Coloquick - CultRow 57 - Cell 2
59Timothy Dupont (Bel) Veranda's Willems CrelanRow 58 - Cell 2
60Tyler Williams (USA) Israel Cycling Academy0:10:55
61Nico Denz (Ger) AG2R La MondialeRow 60 - Cell 2
62Christian Moberg Jörgensen (Den) Coloquick - CultRow 61 - Cell 2
63Quentin Pacher (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 62 - Cell 2
64Gotzon Udondo Santamaria (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country - Murias0:13:54
DNFRune Almindso Andersen (Den) Coloquick - CultRow 64 - Cell 2
DNFMagnus Bak Klaris (Den) Coloquick - CultRow 65 - Cell 2
DNFDennis Herforth Jensen (Den) Coloquick - CultRow 66 - Cell 2
DNFMathias Krigbaum (Den) Coloquick - CultRow 67 - Cell 2
DNFRasmus Wallin (Den) Coloquick - CultRow 68 - Cell 2
DNFSamuel Dumoulin (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 69 - Cell 2
DNFSondre Holst Enger (Nor) AG2R La MondialeRow 70 - Cell 2
DNFMarc Fournier (Fra) FDJRow 71 - Cell 2
DNFDaniel Hoelgaard (Nor) FDJRow 72 - Cell 2
DNFLorenzo Manzin (Fra) FDJRow 73 - Cell 2
DNFMarc Sarreau (Fra) FDJRow 74 - Cell 2
DNFRayane Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 75 - Cell 2
DNFDorian Godon (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 76 - Cell 2
DNFChristophe Laporte (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 77 - Cell 2
DNFMathias Le Turnier (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 78 - Cell 2
DNFClement Venturini (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 79 - Cell 2
DNFRomain Lemarchand (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 80 - Cell 2
DNFYannick Martinez (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 81 - Cell 2
DNFGatis Smukulis (Lat) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 82 - Cell 2
DNFYohann Gene (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 83 - Cell 2
DNFBryan Nauleau (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 84 - Cell 2
DNFBenoit Jarrier (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 85 - Cell 2
DNFFrancis Mourey (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 86 - Cell 2
DNFFlorian Vachon (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 87 - Cell 2
DNFDan Craven (Nam) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 88 - Cell 2
DNFBenjamin Perry (Can) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 89 - Cell 2
DNFKrists Neilands (Lat) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 90 - Cell 2
DNFHamish Schreurs (NZl) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 91 - Cell 2
DNFYecid Arturo Sierra (Col) Manzana PostobonRow 92 - Cell 2
DNFJuan Jose Amador (Col) Manzana PostobonRow 93 - Cell 2
DNFJuan Pablo Villegas (Col) Manzana PostobonRow 94 - Cell 2
DNFJhojan Garcia (Col) Manzana PostobonRow 95 - Cell 2
DNFSergio Andres Higuita (Col) Manzana PostobonRow 96 - Cell 2
DNFJuan Sebastian Molano (Col) Manzana PostobonRow 97 - Cell 2
DNFBernardo Suaza (Col) Manzana PostobonRow 98 - Cell 2
DNFSander Cordeel (Bel) Veranda's Willems CrelanRow 99 - Cell 2
DNFChristophe Prémont (Bel) Veranda's Willems CrelanRow 100 - Cell 2
DNFStef Van Zummeren (Bel) Veranda's Willems CrelanRow 101 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Goolaerts (Bel) Veranda's Willems CrelanRow 102 - Cell 2
DNFAidis Kruopis (Ltu) Veranda's Willems CrelanRow 103 - Cell 2
DNFSimone Antonini (Ita) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 104 - Cell 2
DNFRobin Stenuit (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 105 - Cell 2
DNFKevin Van Melsen (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 106 - Cell 2
DNFMark Mcnally (GBr) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 107 - Cell 2
DNFJimmy Raibaud (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 108 - Cell 2
DNFKevin Lebreton (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 109 - Cell 2
DNFStéphane Poulhies (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 110 - Cell 2
DNFYannis Yssaad (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 111 - Cell 2
DNFNicolas Baldo (Fra) HP BTP - Auber 93Row 112 - Cell 2
DNFFlavien Dassonville (Fra) HP BTP - Auber 93Row 113 - Cell 2
DNFPierre Gouault (Fra) HP BTP - Auber 93Row 114 - Cell 2
DNFAnthony Maldonado (Fra) HP BTP - Auber 93Row 115 - Cell 2
DNFJeremy Bescond (Fra) HP BTP - Auber 93Row 116 - Cell 2
DNFJeremy Cabot (Fra) Roubaix - Lille MetropoleRow 117 - Cell 2
DNFJoeri Calleeuw (Bel) Roubaix - Lille MetropoleRow 118 - Cell 2
DNFJérémy Leveau (Fra) Roubaix - Lille MetropoleRow 119 - Cell 2
DNFLander Seynaeve (Bel) Roubaix - Lille MetropoleRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFWim Reynaerts (Bel) Cibel - CebonRow 121 - Cell 2
DNFBrecht Ruyters (Bel) Cibel - CebonRow 122 - Cell 2
DNFLuuc Bugter (Ned) Delta Cycling RotterdamRow 123 - Cell 2
DNFMitchell Mulhern (Aus) Delta Cycling RotterdamRow 124 - Cell 2
DNFPastoor Gerco (Ned) Delta Cycling RotterdamRow 125 - Cell 2
DNFJordi Talen (Ned) Delta Cycling RotterdamRow 126 - Cell 2
DNFJens Van Den Dool (Ned) Delta Cycling RotterdamRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFAritz Bagues Kalparsoro (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country - MuriasRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFAdrian Gonzalez Velasco (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country - MuriasRow 129 - Cell 2
DNFEneko Lizarralde Delgado (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country - MuriasRow 130 - Cell 2
DNFPello Olaberria Arruabarrena (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country - MuriasRow 131 - Cell 2
DNFVegard Breen (Nor) Joker IcopalRow 132 - Cell 2
DNFMarkus Hoelgaard (Nor) Joker IcopalRow 133 - Cell 2
DNFBjorn Tore Hoem (Nor) Joker IcopalRow 134 - Cell 2
DNFIver Johan Knotten (Nor) Joker IcopalRow 135 - Cell 2
DNFKristoffer Skjerping (Nor) Joker IcopalRow 136 - Cell 2
DNFAdrian Aas Stien (Nor) Joker IcopalRow 137 - Cell 2
DNFAlexandre Blain (Fra) Madison GenesisRow 138 - Cell 2
DNFMatthew Cronshaw (GBr) Madison GenesisRow 139 - Cell 2
DNFRichard Handley (GBr) Madison GenesisRow 140 - Cell 2
DNFTobyn Horton (GBr) Madison GenesisRow 141 - Cell 2
DNFErick Rowsell (GBr) Madison GenesisRow 142 - Cell 2
DNFTaylor Karl Gunman (NZl) Madison GenesisRow 143 - Cell 2
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Mountains classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Félix Pouilly (Fra) Roubaix - Lille Metropole5pts
2Torkil Veyhe (Den) Coloquick - Cult5Row 1 - Cell 3
3Frederik Backaert (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert3Row 2 - Cell 3
4Quentin Pacher (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTM3Row 3 - Cell 3
5Julien Loubet (Fra) Armee de Terre1Row 4 - Cell 3

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