Demare beats Bouhanni to French road race title

Arnaud Demare (FDJ) on the stage 1 podium at Paris-Nice

Arnaud Demare (FDJ) on the stage 1 podium at Paris-Nice (Image credit: Courtesy of Polartec-Kometa)

Top favourite Arnaud Démare (FDJ) won the French national championships road race in Saint-Omer (Nord-Pas-de-Calais) on Sunday afternoon. Démare won the sprint in a small peloton, holding off Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis). Jérémy Leveau (Roubaix-Lille Métropole) was third at long distance.

It's the second time 25-year-old Démare gets to wear the blue-blanc-rouge, after winning in Futuroscope in 2014. He takes over the jersey from teammate Arthur Vichot.

"We have a super team. We went 100 per cent for me today. I was very good and the team was strong. I'm super happy. [...] One doesn't get used to wearing this jersey. It'll be a different experience compared to the first time. I was very young in 2014," Démare said in the post-race flash interview.

The man next to him - Nacer Bouhanni - was less excited, two months after his crash in the Tour of Yorkshire. Before crossing the line, Bouhanni was making gestures to point out that he didn't like the way Démare sprinted.

"He moved twice. He didn't hold his line in the final metres. I was relegated for a few centimetres in Hamburg. I'm disappointed. I'd loved to have won," Bouhanni said in his post-race flash interview. Démare did move but the jury felt it wasn't enough to relegate him.

The French peloton faced a battle of 248 kilometres on a 15.5 kilometres long course, with the wind and two climbs featuring on each of the sixteen laps. A large group of fourteen riders formed the breakaway of the day but the FDJ-led peloton didn't offer them a lot of ground. Thomas Rostollan (Armée de Terre) and Anthony Turgis (Cofidis) were the strongest men in front, dropping them on the climb. Meanwhile, another chase group was formed. Eight riders from this group bridged up with the two leaders when passing the Longuenesse Souvenir Cemetery. At 40 kilometres from the finish, the peloton was a minute down on the ten leaders.

Further attacks on the climbs in front and in the peloton created a further selection. A first selection left Thomas Boudat (Direct Energie), Pierre-Roger Latour (AG2R La Mondiale), Florian Vachon (Fortuneo-Vital Concept) and Flavien Dassonville (HP BTP - Auber 93) in front. Later, Florian Vachon and Thomas Boudat were joined by Julien Bernard (Trek-Segafredo), Elie Gesbert (Fortuneo-Vital Concept) and Yoann Offredo (WB Veranclassic-Aqua Protect) on the last climb in the penultimate lap. The five leaders had a bonus of half a minute on the first peloton of 35 riders with all the best sprinters still there.

The final lap would decide if the peloton would get back on the leaders and which sprinters would survive the climbs. Julien Antomarchi (Roubaix-Lille Métropole) made a big move. After the first climb, he closed the gap with the five leaders, battling the crosswinds. On the second climb, he continued his effort and dropped the others. In the peloton, the Fortuneo-riders tried to disturb the build-up for the sprint. A small peloton of only twenty riders survived the climb, without Direct Energie-sprinters Bryan Coquard and Adrien Petit, but with Démare and Bouhanni.

At three kilometres from the finish Antomarchi was caught back by the FDJ-train. Mickaël Delage led out the sprint for Démare, who started the tailwind sprint. Bouhanni was glued on his wheel but failed to get out it. Jérémy Leveau (Roubaix-Lille Métropole) was best of the rest at two seconds, joining the two top sprinters on the podium.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ5:54:22
2Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 1 - Cell 2
3Jérémy Leveau (Fra) Roubaix - Lille Metropole0:00:02
4Pierre Luc Perichon (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 3 - Cell 2
5Florian Senechal (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 4 - Cell 2
6Kevin Ledanois (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 5 - Cell 2
7Rudy Barbier (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 6 - Cell 2
8Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 7 - Cell 2
9Yoann Offredo (Fra) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 8 - Cell 2
10Fabien Touze (Fra) HP BTP - Auber 93Row 9 - Cell 2
11Julien Simon (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 10 - Cell 2
12Quentin Pacher (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 11 - Cell 2
13Mickael Delage (Fra) FDJRow 12 - Cell 2
14Laurent Pichon (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital Concept0:00:05
15Anthony Perez (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 14 - Cell 2
16Rémi Cavagna (Fra) Quick-Step Floors0:00:08
17Alexis Vuillermoz (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 16 - Cell 2
18Maxime Bouet (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 17 - Cell 2
19Fabien Grellier (Fra) Direct Energie0:00:11
20Julien Antomarchi (Fra) Roubaix - Lille MetropoleRow 19 - Cell 2
21David Menut (Fra) HP BTP - Auber 930:00:23
22Erwann Corbel (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 21 - Cell 2
23Steven Tronet (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 22 - Cell 2
24Kevin Le Cunff (Fra) HP BTP - Auber 93Row 23 - Cell 2
25Arthur Vichot (Fra) FDJRow 24 - Cell 2
26Brice Feillu (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 25 - Cell 2
27Jimmy Raibaud (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 26 - Cell 2
28Anthony Roux (Fra) FDJRow 27 - Cell 2
29Romain Combaud (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTM0:00:28
30Anthony Maldonado (Fra) HP BTP - Auber 93Row 29 - Cell 2
31Adrien Petit (Fra) Direct Energie0:00:29
32Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 31 - Cell 2
33Yohann Gene (Fra) Direct Energie0:00:38
34Jeremy Bescond (Fra) HP BTP - Auber 930:01:05
35Yannis Yssaad (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 34 - Cell 2
36Julien Morice (Fra) Direct Energie0:01:46
37Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Direct Energie0:01:48
38Alexandre Blain (Fra) Madison Genesis0:01:51
39Remy Di Gregorio (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 38 - Cell 2
40Pierre Moncorgé (Fra) MPCRow 39 - Cell 2
41Yannick Martinez (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 40 - Cell 2
42Paul Ourselin (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 41 - Cell 2
43Félix Pouilly (Fra) Roubaix - Lille MetropoleRow 42 - Cell 2
44Jimmy Turgis (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 43 - Cell 2
45Thierry Hupond (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 44 - Cell 2
46Franck Bonnamour (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 45 - Cell 2
47Anthony Turgis (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 46 - Cell 2
48Christophe Laporte (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 47 - Cell 2
49Francis Mourey (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital Concept0:01:58
50Brian Nauleau (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 49 - Cell 2
51Guillaume Martin (Fra) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 50 - Cell 2
52Alexandre Geniez (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 51 - Cell 2
53Jérémy Maison (Fra) FDJRow 52 - Cell 2
54Thomas Boudat (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 53 - Cell 2
55Bryan Coquard (Fra) Direct Energie0:03:09
56Nicolas Baldo (Fra) HP BTP - Auber 930:03:10
57Justin Jules (Fra) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect0:03:46
58Julien Bernard (Fra) Trek-Segafredo0:03:53
59Angelo Tulik (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 58 - Cell 2
60Florian Vachon (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 59 - Cell 2
61Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 60 - Cell 2
62François Bidard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 61 - Cell 2
63Romain Hardy (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 62 - Cell 2
64Rudy Molard (Fra) FDJ0:04:18
65Pierre Roger Latour (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 64 - Cell 2
66Kevin Reza (Fra) FDJRow 65 - Cell 2
67Axel Domont (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 66 - Cell 2
68Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 67 - Cell 2
69Flavien Dassonville (Fra) HP BTP - Auber 93Row 68 - Cell 2
70Elie Gesbert (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital Concept0:04:40
71Kevin Lebreton (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 70 - Cell 2
72Mathias Le Turnier (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:05:07
73Hugo Hofstetter (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 72 - Cell 2
74Olivier Le Gac (Fra) FDJRow 73 - Cell 2
75Julien Duval (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:07:20
76Pierre Gouault (Fra) HP BTP - Auber 93Row 75 - Cell 2
77Perrig Quemeneur (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 76 - Cell 2
78Cyril Gautier (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 77 - Cell 2
79Romain Cardis (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 78 - Cell 2
80Arnaud Gerard (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 79 - Cell 2
81Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 80 - Cell 2
82Fabien Doubey (Fra) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 81 - Cell 2
83Romain Feillu (Fra) HP BTP - Auber 930:07:24
84Clement Venturini (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 83 - Cell 2
85Clement Chevrier (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 84 - Cell 2
86Fabien Canal (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 85 - Cell 2
87Morgan Kneisky (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 86 - Cell 2
88Armindo Fonseca (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 87 - Cell 2
89Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 88 - Cell 2
90Romain Sicard (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 89 - Cell 2
91Julien Berard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 90 - Cell 2
92Dorian Godon (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 91 - Cell 2
93Julien El Fares (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 92 - Cell 2
94Stéphane Poulhies (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 93 - Cell 2
95Jordan Levasseur (Fra) Armee de Terre0:07:43
DNFWilliam Bonnet (Fra) FDJRow 95 - Cell 2
DNFArnaud Courteille (Fra) FDJRow 96 - Cell 2
DNFMarc Fournier (Fra) FDJRow 97 - Cell 2
DNFDavid Gaudu (Fra) FDJRow 98 - Cell 2
DNFMatthieu Ladagnous (Fra) FDJRow 99 - Cell 2
DNFJohan Le Bon (Fra) FDJRow 100 - Cell 2
DNFLorrenzo Manzin (Fra) FDJRow 101 - Cell 2
DNFCedric Pineau (Fra) FDJRow 102 - Cell 2
DNFJérémy Roy (Fra) FDJRow 103 - Cell 2
DNFMarc Sarreau (Fra) FDJRow 104 - Cell 2
DNFBenoit Vaugrenard (Fra) FDJRow 105 - Cell 2
DNFLéo Vincent (Fra) FDJRow 106 - Cell 2
DNFLilian Calmejane (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 107 - Cell 2
DNFJeremy Cornu (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 108 - Cell 2
DNFRomain Guillemois (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 109 - Cell 2
DNFTony Hurel (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 110 - Cell 2
DNFYoann Bagot (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 111 - Cell 2
DNFGuillaume Bonnafond (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 112 - Cell 2
DNFLoic Chetout (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 113 - Cell 2
DNFNicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 114 - Cell 2
DNFGeoffrey Soupe (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 115 - Cell 2
DNFBryan Alaphilippe (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 116 - Cell 2
DNFRomain Campistrous (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 117 - Cell 2
DNFThibault Ferasse (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 118 - Cell 2
DNFDamien Gaudin (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 119 - Cell 2
DNFYann Guyot (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFRomain Le Roux (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 121 - Cell 2
DNFJulien Loubet (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 122 - Cell 2
DNFJerome Mainard (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 123 - Cell 2
DNFThomas Rostollan (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 124 - Cell 2
DNFBenjamin Thomas (Fra) Armee de TerreRow 125 - Cell 2
DNFAlexis Gougeard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 126 - Cell 2
DNFQuentin Jauregui (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFChristophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFMaxime Daniel (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 129 - Cell 2
DNFBenoit Jarrier (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 130 - Cell 2
DNFArnold Jeannesson (Fra) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 131 - Cell 2
DNFBenjamin Giraud (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 132 - Cell 2
DNFRomain Lemarchand (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTMRow 133 - Cell 2
DNFJeremy Cabot (Fra) Roubaix - Lille MetropoleRow 134 - Cell 2
DNFDylan Kowalski (Fra) Roubaix - Lille MetropoleRow 135 - Cell 2
DNFQuentin Valognes (Fra) Team Novo NordiskRow 136 - Cell 2
DNFCorentin Cherhal (Fra) Team Novo NordiskRow 137 - Cell 2
DNFRomain Gioux (Fra) Team Novo NordiskRow 138 - Cell 2
DNFJulien Amadori (Fra) Interpro Cycling AcademyRow 139 - Cell 2
DNFFlorian Hudry (Fra) Interpro Cycling AcademyRow 140 - Cell 2
DNFGuillaume Levarlet (Fra) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 141 - Cell 2
DNFMaxime Gressier (Fra) Development Team SunwebRow 142 - Cell 2
DNFCorentin Ermenault (Fra) Team WigginsRow 143 - Cell 2

 

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