ONE Pro Cycling's Mortensen wins Tro Bro Leon

Martin Mortensen (ONE Pro Cycling)

Martin Mortensen (ONE Pro Cycling) (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

Newly upgraded to Pro Continental level, ONE Pro Cycling, the first ever British team with this status, claimed its first major victory with Martin Mortensen and Peter Williams finishing first and second of the Tro Bro Leon – the Breton race that used 31.9km of graveled roads at the extreme west of the European continent. Local squad Fortuneo-Vital Concept placed Florian Vachon in third.

"I didn't necessarily expect to win this race but you always start a race with the hope of winning it," Mortensen told Cyclingnews after the finish. "But the way we rode as a team made it possible and I had the legs! I crashed after 90km but it didn't affect me. Being away with two French riders in the finale [Vachon and FDJ's Laurent Pichon], since they didn't work with me, I decided to try by myself because there was a chasing group behind."

The leading trio was formed in the last 20 kilometres of racing after a group of 10 riders finally emerged with Sébastien Minard (AG2R-La Mondiale), Mikhel Raïm (Cycling Academy), Jordan Levasseur (Armée de Terre), Baptiste Planckaert (Wallonie-Bruxelles), Dimitri Claeys (Wanty-Groupe Gobert), Yohan Gène (Direct Energie), Mortensen, Williams, Pichon and Vachon.

Mortensen attacked the two Frenchmen three times but he was yet to outsprint them while the chasing group was coming across, which allowed Williams to take the second place. Three years ago, FDJ captured the whole podium with Francis Mourey, Johan Le Bon and Anthony Geslin but a 1-2 had never been seen since the inception of the Tro Bro Leon as an amateur race in 1984 [it became a pro event in 2000 with the young Samuel Sanchez finishing second for Euskadi].

"We've been going well all day," Williams commented. "We've always had guys at the front. Towards the end we were the two of us. With 250 metres to go, I accelerated to take second place. It's pretty amazing. This is the first big win for our team and it happens in such great race. We've done similar races on the British scene last year but with the big boys here, it's another level. We're getting there!"

"It's always nice to win a race," Mortensen echoed. "Early this year we've showed that we're a pretty good team. This race is not an easy one but it's really special. It wasn't new to me and I've also done Paris-Roubaix sometimes. We also have the GP Herning that is a bit similar in Denmark."

A former Vacansoleil and Leopard rider in the World Tour, the 31-year-old has put ONE Pro Cycling right on track ahead of the Tour de Yorkshire, which is obviously a pretty big goal for the squad managed by former cricketer Matt Prior.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Martin Mortensen (Den) ONE Pro Cycling4:50:36
2Peter Williams (GBr) ONE Pro CyclingRow 1 - Cell 2
3Florian Vachon (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 2 - Cell 2
4Laurent Pichon (Fra) FDJRow 3 - Cell 2
5Johan Le Bon (Fra) FDJRow 4 - Cell 2
6Yohann Gene (Fra) Direct Energie0:00:04
7Baptiste Planckaert (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Group Protect0:00:17
8Dimitri Claeys (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 7 - Cell 2
9Mihkel Räim (Est) Cycling Academy TeamRow 8 - Cell 2
10Sébastien Minard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:00:20
11Maxime Renault (Fra) HP-BTP Auber 930:00:31
12Yannis Yssaad (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 11 - Cell 2
13Christophe Laporte (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 12 - Cell 2
14Jimmy Turgis (Fra) Roubaix Metropole Europeenne De LilleRow 13 - Cell 2
15Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 14 - Cell 2
16Sébastien Delfosse (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Group ProtectRow 15 - Cell 2
17Guillaume Thévenot (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 16 - Cell 2
18Arnaud Gerard (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 17 - Cell 2
19Alexis Bodiot (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 18 - Cell 2
20Julien Duval (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 19 - Cell 2
21Anthony Delaplace (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 20 - Cell 2
22Robin Stenuit (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 21 - Cell 2
23Alo Jakin (Est) HP-BTP Auber 93Row 22 - Cell 2
24Hugo Hofstetter (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 23 - Cell 2
25Dion Smith (NZl) ONE Pro CyclingRow 24 - Cell 2
26Julien Stassen (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Group ProtectRow 25 - Cell 2
27Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 26 - Cell 2
28Hayden McCormick (NZl) ONE Pro CyclingRow 27 - Cell 2
29Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 28 - Cell 2
30Benoit Jarrier (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 29 - Cell 2
31Flavien Dassonville (Fra) HP-BTP Auber 93Row 30 - Cell 2
32Alexandre Geniez (Fra) FDJRow 31 - Cell 2
33Romain Combaud (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 32 - Cell 2
34Vegard Breen (Nor) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 33 - Cell 2
35Francis Mourey (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 34 - Cell 2
36Perrig Quemeneur (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 35 - Cell 2
37Christophe Laborie (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 36 - Cell 2
38Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) FDJ0:00:39
39Benoît Sinner (Fra) Armee de Terre0:00:51
40Damien Gaudin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:01:03
41Frederik Backaert (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert0:01:18
42Olivier Chevalier (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Group Protect0:01:33
43Clément Venturini (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:01:41
44Jimmy Janssens (Bel) Team 3MRow 43 - Cell 2
45Xandro Meurisse (Bel) Crelan-Vastgoedservice Continental TeamRow 44 - Cell 2
46Marcel Meisen (Ger) Team Kuota-LottoRow 45 - Cell 2
47Timothy Stevens (Bel) Crelan-Vastgoedservice Continental TeamRow 46 - Cell 2
48Frederique Robert (Bel) Crelan-Vastgoedservice Continental TeamRow 47 - Cell 2
49Olivier Le Gac (Fra) FDJRow 48 - Cell 2
50Olivier Pardini (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Group Protect0:01:44
51Jordan Levasseur (Fra) Armee de Terre0:02:29
52Rudy Barbier (Fra) Roubaix Metropole Europeenne De Lille0:02:37
53Dennis Coenen (Bel) Crelan-Vastgoedservice Continental TeamRow 52 - Cell 2
54David Boucher (Fra) Crelan-Vastgoedservice Continental TeamRow 53 - Cell 2
55Thomas Rostollan (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 54 - Cell 2
56Gerry Druyts (Bel) Crelan-Vastgoedservice Continental TeamRow 55 - Cell 2
57David Menut (Fra) HP-BTP Auber 930:03:21
58Lilian Calmejane (Fra) Direct Energie0:03:58
59Franck Bonnamour (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital Concept0:04:40
60Stéphane Poulhies (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 59 - Cell 2
61Anthony Maldonado (Fra) HP-BTP Auber 930:05:44
62Nico Denz (Ger) AG2R La MondialeRow 61 - Cell 2
63Benjamin Giraud (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 62 - Cell 2
64Julien El Fares (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 63 - Cell 2
DNFMarc Fournier (Fra) FDJRow 64 - Cell 2
DNFLorenzo Manzin (Fra) FDJRow 65 - Cell 2
DNFCédric Pineau (Fra) FDJRow 66 - Cell 2
DNFGediminas Bagdonas (Ltu) AG2R La MondialeRow 67 - Cell 2
DNFMaxime Daniel (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 68 - Cell 2
DNFQuentin Jauregui (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 69 - Cell 2
DNFSébastien Turgot (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 70 - Cell 2
DNFLoïc Chetout (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 71 - Cell 2
DNFAnthony Perez (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 72 - Cell 2
DNFGert Joeaar (Est) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 73 - Cell 2
DNFFlorian Senechal (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 74 - Cell 2
DNFKenneth Van Bilsen (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 75 - Cell 2
DNFMikel Aristi Gardoki (Spa) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 76 - Cell 2
DNFFredrik Strand Galta (Nor) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 77 - Cell 2
DNFYannick Martinez (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 78 - Cell 2
DNFEvaldas Siskevicius (Ltu) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 79 - Cell 2
DNFJeremy Cornu (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 80 - Cell 2
DNFRomain Guillemois (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 81 - Cell 2
DNFKevin Ledanois (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 82 - Cell 2
DNFSebastian Lander (Den) ONE Pro CyclingRow 83 - Cell 2
DNFSamuel Williams (GBr) ONE Pro CyclingRow 84 - Cell 2
DNFNicolas Baldo (Fra) Team RothRow 85 - Cell 2
DNFDylan Page (Swi) Team RothRow 86 - Cell 2
DNFFrank Pasche (Swi) Team RothRow 87 - Cell 2
DNFColin Stüssi (Swi) Team RothRow 88 - Cell 2
DNFGrischa Janorschke (Ger) Team RothRow 89 - Cell 2
DNFMartin Kohler (Swi) Team RothRow 90 - Cell 2
DNFGuillaume Martin (Fra) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 91 - Cell 2
DNFJérôme Baugnies (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 92 - Cell 2
DNFDanilo Napolitano (Ita) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 93 - Cell 2
DNFLander Seynaeve (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 94 - Cell 2
DNFBryan Alaphilippe (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 95 - Cell 2
DNFGuillaume Boivin (Can) Cycling Academy TeamRow 96 - Cell 2
DNFDan Craven (Nam) Cycling Academy TeamRow 97 - Cell 2
DNFLubos Malovec (Svk) Cycling Academy TeamRow 98 - Cell 2
DNFWojciech Migdal (Pol) Cycling Academy TeamRow 99 - Cell 2
DNFAviv Yechzkel (Isr) Cycling Academy TeamRow 100 - Cell 2
DNFGuy Sagiv (Isr) Cycling Academy TeamRow 101 - Cell 2
DNFZohar Hadari (Isr) Cycling Academy TeamRow 102 - Cell 2
DNFGotzon Udondo (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country - MuriasRow 103 - Cell 2
DNFAritz Bagües (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country - MuriasRow 104 - Cell 2
DNFAnder Barrenetxea (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country - MuriasRow 105 - Cell 2
DNFEneko Lizarralde (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country - MuriasRow 106 - Cell 2
DNFPeio Olaberria (Spa) Euskadi Basque Country - MuriasRow 107 - Cell 2
DNFRomain Feillu (Fra) HP-BTP Auber 93Row 108 - Cell 2
DNFThéo Vimpere (Fra) HP-BTP Auber 93Row 109 - Cell 2
DNFCésar Bihel (Fra) HP-BTP Auber 93Row 110 - Cell 2
DNFJeremy Leveau (Fra) Roubaix Metropole Europeenne De LilleRow 111 - Cell 2
DNFFlorent Pereira (Fra) Roubaix Metropole Europeenne De LilleRow 112 - Cell 2
DNFFelix Pouilly (Fra) Roubaix Metropole Europeenne De LilleRow 113 - Cell 2
DNFLouis Verhelst (Bel) Roubaix Metropole Europeenne De LilleRow 114 - Cell 2
DNFDieter Bouvry (Bel) Roubaix Metropole Europeenne De LilleRow 115 - Cell 2
DNFLukas Löer (Ger) Team Kuota-LottoRow 116 - Cell 2
DNFFelix Drumm (Ger) Team Kuota-LottoRow 117 - Cell 2
DNFChristopher Hatz (Ger) Team Kuota-LottoRow 118 - Cell 2
DNFDario Rapps (Ger) Team Kuota-LottoRow 119 - Cell 2
DNFTobias Knaup (Ger) Team Kuota-LottoRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFRichard Weinzheimer (Ger) Team Kuota-LottoRow 121 - Cell 2
DNFJelle Goderis (Bel) Team 3MRow 122 - Cell 2
DNFGertjan De Vos (Bel) Team 3MRow 123 - Cell 2
DNFLaurent Evrard (Bel) Team 3MRow 124 - Cell 2
DNFPiotr Havik (Ned) Team 3MRow 125 - Cell 2
DNFDick Janssens (Ned) Team 3MRow 126 - Cell 2
DNFBob Schoonbroodt (Ned) Team 3MRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFLudwig De Winter (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Group ProtectRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFTom Dernies (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Group ProtectRow 129 - Cell 2
DNFGregory Habeaux (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Group ProtectRow 130 - Cell 2
DNFPieter Jacobs (Bel) Crelan-Vastgoedservice Continental TeamRow 131 - Cell 2
DNFRob Ruijgh (Ned) Crelan-Vastgoedservice Continental TeamRow 132 - Cell 2

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