Anthony Roux rules France
FDJ rider beats Turgis and Alaphilippe to French national championship
Anthony Roux (FDJ) came out on top in a thrilling race at the French national championships with powerful sprint to hold off Anthony Turgis (Cofidis) and Julian Alaphilippe (Quick-Step Floors). FDJ used their numbers in the finale perfectly to set up the win. With the line in sight Turgis opened up his sprint but Roux had enough in the tank to come back on terms and then take the win by a comfortable distance.
The win marked Roux's first French champion title as he won a six-man sprint in Mantes-la-Jolie near Paris.
"I can't believe it," Roux said. "For so many years, I've been close to winning, also in the time trial [4th on Thursday]. I made the podium twice and once I was disqualified [for causing the crash of Nacer Bouhanni [in 2015]. I was afraid that I was not able to target the victory any more. I didn't think the course would suit me. But the race went to perfection. I did everything to perform here after the Giro. Hadn't Alaphilippe come across, Rudy Molard would have been the French champion. I wasn't confident to beat Alaphilippe. When Turgis forced me to sprint from far out, it helped me to have a 56 gear at the front. We don't become French championz by coincidence. It's great to keep the title in the team."
Founded in 1997 by the Madiot brothers who were themselves French champions in 1986 (Yvon) and 1987 (Marc), the FDJ team took the title only once in fifteen years, with Nicolas Vogondy in 2002. Roux keeps the winning streak that started with Nacer Bouhanni in 2012, followed by Arthur Vichot in 2013 (and again in 2016) and Arnaud Démare in 2014 (and again in 2017), and was only interrupted by the victory of continental rider Steven Tronet for Auber 93 in 2015.
Now renamed Groupama-FDJ, they kept the race under their control from start to finish, first pulling behind early attackers Alexis Vuillermoz (AG2R-La Mondiale), Damien Gaudin (Direct Energie), Maxime Daniel (Fortuneo-Samsic) and Marc Fournier (Vital Concept). Secondly, they had six riders in the 31-man front group that was formed after 50km of racing, including up and coming climber David Gaudu, who is the replacement for Thibaut Pinot as the team's climber at the Tour de France next week. The other French WorldTour team AG2R-La Mondiale was also represented by six riders while all eyes were on defending champion Arnaud Démare who was again the hot favourite as it could have been another sprint finish, even in a reduced bunch. But the heat took its toll.
Groupama-FDJ kept Démare's hopes alive as they maintained the gap at around three minutes. They outnumbered their rivals after half way when the front group split. Gaudu, Valentin Madouas, Romain Seigle and Benjamin Thomas upped the tempo while their teammates stopped pacing the peloton.
Rémi Cavagna (Quick Step Floors) was the first to bridge the gap from the peloton to the escapees with 50km to go. Counter attacks kept going after that. Successively, it brought the likes of Roux, Vichot, Molard (Groupama-FDJ), Warren Barguil (Fortuneo-Samsic), Guillaume Martin (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) and Cyril Gautier (AG2R-La Mondiale) into contention for the blue-white-red jersey.
Molard rode away with Jimmy Turgis (Cofidis) and Johan Le Bon (Vital Concept) but a strong attack from the bunch was launched by Alaphilippe and the other Turgis [Anthony] from Cofidis. Pierre Latour (AG2R-La Mondiale) also came from behind.
There were eventually were six to contest the title: Molard, Roux, Turgis, Martin, Latour and Alaphilippe. Groupama-FDJ were the only team with two riders after Vichot cramped with 6km to go, and Molard sacrificed himself for Roux who won from a very long sprint that he launched 300 metres before the line. The jersey remains in the same camp but Roux isn't part of the Tour de France team.
Full Results
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Anthony Roux (Fra) Groupama-FDJ | 6:04:53 |
2 | Anthony Turgis (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
3 | Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Quick-Step Floors | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
4 | Pierre Latour (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
5 | Guillaume Martin (Fra) Wanty-Groupe Gobert | 0:00:06 |
6 | Rudy Molard (Fra) Groupama-FDJ | 0:00:09 |
7 | Warren Barguil (Fra) Fortuneo-Samsic | 0:00:23 |
8 | Thomas Boudat (Fra) Direct Energie | 0:00:34 |
9 | Kevin Ledanois (Fra) Fortuneo-Samsic | Row 8 - Cell 2 |
10 | Julien Antomarchi (Fra) Roubaix Lille Metropole | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
11 | Cyril Gautier (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 10 - Cell 2 |
12 | Rémi Cavagna (Fra) Quick-Step Floors | Row 11 - Cell 2 |
13 | Arthur Vichot (Fra) Groupama-FDJ | 0:00:46 |
14 | Arnaud Demare (Fra) Groupama-FDJ | 0:00:50 |
15 | Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 14 - Cell 2 |
16 | Damien Touze (Fra) St Michel-Auber 93 | Row 15 - Cell 2 |
17 | Christophe Laporte (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 16 - Cell 2 |
18 | Jimmy Turgis (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 17 - Cell 2 |
19 | Maxime Bouet (Fra) Fortuneo-Samsic | Row 18 - Cell 2 |
20 | Yoann Offredo (Fra) Wanty-Groupe Gobert | Row 19 - Cell 2 |
21 | Guillaume Levarlet (Fra) St Michel-Auber 93 | Row 20 - Cell 2 |
22 | Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 21 - Cell 2 |
23 | Anthony Delaplace (Fra) Fortuneo-Samsic | 0:00:53 |
24 | Lilian Calmejane (Fra) Direct Energie | Row 23 - Cell 2 |
25 | Kevin Le Cunff (Fra) St Michel-Auber 93 | Row 24 - Cell 2 |
26 | Bryan Coquard (Fra) Vital Concept Club | 0:00:57 |
27 | Julien Bernard (Fra) Trek-Segafredo | 0:00:58 |
28 | Julien Simon (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | 0:01:25 |
29 | Alexis Vuillermoz (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | 0:02:01 |
30 | Angelo Tulik (Fra) Direct Energie | 0:02:05 |
31 | Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Direct Energie | Row 30 - Cell 2 |
32 | Anthony Perez (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 31 - Cell 2 |
33 | Jérémy Maison (Fra) Fortuneo-Samsic | Row 32 - Cell 2 |
34 | Olivier Le Gac (Fra) Groupama-FDJ | Row 33 - Cell 2 |
35 | Florian Vachon (Fra) Fortuneo-Samsic | Row 34 - Cell 2 |
36 | Laurent Pichon (Fra) Fortuneo-Samsic | Row 35 - Cell 2 |
37 | Axel Domont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | 0:04:18 |
38 | Valentin Madouas (Fra) Groupama-FDJ | 0:04:47 |
39 | Elie Gesbert (Fra) Fortuneo-Samsic | Row 38 - Cell 2 |
40 | Arnaud Courteille (Fra) Vital Concept Club | 0:04:49 |
41 | Johan Le Bon (Fra) Vital Concept Club | 0:04:51 |
42 | Stéphane Rossetto (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 41 - Cell 2 |
43 | Quentin Pacher (Fra) Vital Concept Club | 0:06:18 |
44 | Quentin Jauregui (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | 0:07:00 |
45 | François Bidard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 44 - Cell 2 |
46 | Yohann Gene (Fra) Direct Energie | 0:08:12 |
47 | Mickael Delage (Fra) Groupama-FDJ | 0:08:55 |
48 | Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) Groupama-FDJ | Row 47 - Cell 2 |
49 | Paul Ourselin (Fra) Direct Energie | Row 48 - Cell 2 |
50 | Jérémy Leveau (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTM | Row 49 - Cell 2 |
51 | Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Direct Energie | Row 50 - Cell 2 |
52 | Adrien Petit (Fra) Direct Energie | Row 51 - Cell 2 |
53 | Lucas De Rossi (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTM | Row 52 - Cell 2 |
54 | Nans Peters (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 53 - Cell 2 |
55 | Clement Chevrier (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 54 - Cell 2 |
56 | Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 55 - Cell 2 |
57 | Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 56 - Cell 2 |
58 | Yoann Bagot (Fra) Vital Concept Club | Row 57 - Cell 2 |
59 | Pierre Luc Perichon (Fra) Fortuneo-Samsic | Row 58 - Cell 2 |
60 | Fabien Grellier (Fra) Direct Energie | Row 59 - Cell 2 |
61 | Steven Tronet (Fra) Roubaix Lille Metropole | Row 60 - Cell 2 |
62 | Romain Sicard (Fra) Direct Energie | Row 61 - Cell 2 |
63 | Dorian Godon (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 62 - Cell 2 |
64 | Damien Gaudin (Fra) Direct Energie | Row 63 - Cell 2 |
65 | Camille Thominet (Fra) St Michel-Auber 93 | Row 64 - Cell 2 |
66 | Flavien Maurelet (Fra) St Michel-Auber 93 | Row 65 - Cell 2 |
67 | Benoit Cosnefroy (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 66 - Cell 2 |
68 | Benjamin Thomas (Fra) Groupama-FDJ | 0:10:00 |
69 | Pierre Gouault (Fra) Roubaix Lille Metropole | 0:17:19 |
70 | Thomas Joly (Fra) Roubaix Lille Metropole | Row 69 - Cell 2 |
71 | Christophe Masson (Fra) WB Aqua Protect Veranclassic | Row 70 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Bruno Armirail (Fra) Groupama-FDJ | Row 71 - Cell 2 |
DNF | William Bonnet (Fra) Groupama-FDJ | Row 72 - Cell 2 |
DNF | David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ | Row 73 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jérémy Roy (Fra) Groupama-FDJ | Row 74 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Marc Sarreau (Fra) Groupama-FDJ | Row 75 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Romain Seigle (Fra) Groupama-FDJ | Row 76 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Benoit Vaugrenard (Fra) Groupama-FDJ | Row 77 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Léo Vincent (Fra) Groupama-FDJ | Row 78 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Romain Cardis (Fra) Direct Energie | Row 79 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jeremy Cornu (Fra) Direct Energie | Row 80 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jerome Cousin (Fra) Direct Energie | Row 81 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Direct Energie | Row 82 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Axel Journiaux (Fra) Direct Energie | Row 83 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Bryan Nauleau (Fra) Direct Energie | Row 84 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Perrig Quemeneur (Fra) Direct Energie | Row 85 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Simon Sellier (Fra) Direct Energie | Row 86 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Rudy Barbier (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 87 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Mikael Cherel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 88 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Julien Duval (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 89 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Tony Gallopin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 90 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Alexandre Geniez (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 91 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Alexis Gougeard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 92 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Clement Venturini (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale | Row 93 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Franck Bonnamour (Fra) Fortuneo-Samsic | Row 94 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Maxime Daniel (Fra) Fortuneo-Samsic | Row 95 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Brice Feillu (Fra) Fortuneo-Samsic | Row 96 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Armindo Fonseca (Fra) Fortuneo-Samsic | Row 97 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Romain Hardy (Fra) Fortuneo-Samsic | Row 98 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Benoit Jarrier (Fra) Fortuneo-Samsic | Row 99 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Romain Le Roux (Fra) Fortuneo-Samsic | Row 100 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Amael Moinard (Fra) Fortuneo-Samsic | Row 101 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Clement Russo (Fra) Fortuneo-Samsic | Row 102 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Guillaume Bonnafond (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 103 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Loic Chetout (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 104 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Hugo Hofstetter (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 105 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Mathias Le Turnier (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 106 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 107 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Geoffrey Soupe (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits | Row 108 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Erwann Corbel (Fra) Vital Concept Club | Row 109 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Corentin Ermenault (Fra) Vital Concept Club | Row 110 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Marc Fournier (Fra) Vital Concept Club | Row 111 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Adrien Garel (Fra) Vital Concept Club | Row 112 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jérémy Lecroq (Fra) Vital Concept Club | Row 113 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Lorrenzo Manzin (Fra) Vital Concept Club | Row 114 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Julien Morice (Fra) Vital Concept Club | Row 115 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Justin Mottier (Fra) Vital Concept Club | Row 116 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Kevin Reza (Fra) Vital Concept Club | Row 117 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Pierre Barbier (Fra) Roubaix Lille Metropole | Row 118 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jeremy Cabot (Fra) Roubaix Lille Metropole | Row 119 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Pierre Idjouadiene (Fra) Roubaix Lille Metropole | Row 120 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Morgan Kneisky (Fra) Roubaix Lille Metropole | Row 121 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Samuel Leroux (Fra) Roubaix Lille Metropole | Row 122 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Nicolas Baldo (Fra) St Michel-Auber 93 | Row 123 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Romain Feillu (Fra) St Michel-Auber 93 | Row 124 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Anthony Maldonado (Fra) St Michel-Auber 93 | Row 125 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Yoann Paillot (Fra) St Michel-Auber 93 | Row 126 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Romain Combaud (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTM | Row 127 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Julien El Fares (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTM | Row 128 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Yannick Martinez (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTM | Row 129 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Julien Trarieux (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTM | Row 130 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Julien Amadori (Fra) Project Nice Cote d'Azur | Row 131 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Hugo Bouguet (Fra) Project Nice Cote d'Azur | Row 132 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Stéphane Cognet (Fra) Project Nice Cote d'Azur | Row 133 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jérôme Pulidori (Fra) Project Nice Cote d'Azur | Row 134 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Thomas Vaubourzeix (Fra) Project Nice Cote d'Azur | Row 135 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Fabien Doubey (Fra) Wanty-Groupe Gobert | Row 136 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Florian Senechal (Fra) Quick-Step Floors | Row 137 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Justin Jules (Fra) WB Aqua Protect Veranclassic | Row 138 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Pierre Moncorgé (Fra) Memil Ccn Pro Cycling | Row 139 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Yannis Yssaad (Fra) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA | Row 140 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Florian Hudry (Fra) Interpro Stradalli Cycling | Row 141 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Cyril Barthe (Fra) Euskadi Basque Country-Murias | Row 142 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Matthieu Jeannes (Fra) Probaclac/Devinci | Row 143 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Florian Deriaux (Fra) Sovac-Natura4Ever | Row 144 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Corentin Navarro (Fra) Team Wiggins | Row 145 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Arnaud Gerard (Fra) Fortuneo-Samsic | Row 146 - Cell 2 |
DNS | Floryan Arnoult (Fra) Trevigiani Phonix-Hemus 1896 | Row 147 - Cell 2 |
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