Evita Muzic wins French women's road race title

Evita Muzic (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope) won the road race national title at the French Road Championships in Epinal. Muzic outsprinted a small group to take the win ahead of Audrey Cordon Ragot (Trek-Segafredo) and Gladys Verhulst (Arkea Pro Cycling Team).

The elite women's field raced 112km in Épinal. A strong field included defending champion Cordon-Ragot, who won the time trial title two days earlier, along with mountain bike world champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Absalute-Absalon-BMC), Juliette Labous (Team DSM), and FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope team of Muzic, Marie Le Net, Victorie Guilman and former champion Jade Wiel.

After an aggressive first half, a breakaway cleared the field that included Caralie Demay (Stade Rochelais) and Wiel. The two were later joined by Guilman, Noemie Abgrall (Stade Rochelais), Sandrine Bideau (St-Michel) and Greta Richioud (Areka). 

Guilman attacked over the circuit's steep climb and only Wiel, Bideau and Abgrall could follow. As the main field behind included Ferrand-Prévot almost a minute back, while a crash took out former champion Aude Biannic (Movistar). 

Late-race attacks saw Cordon-Ragot, Muzic, Verhulst and Labous clear the bunch in pursuit of the breakaway, while Ferrand-Prévot was distanced from the main field. 

The chase reeled in the early breakaway, and Wiel was the first to attack solo with 20km to go. The move didn't last long as Cordon-Ragot kept the speeds high and attacked the lead group. With 10km to, the group included Cordon-Ragot, Labous, Muzic, Guilman and Verhulst.

As they reached the final climb on the circuit there were several attacks. On the way to the finish line, it was Muzic who made the final winning attack and crossed the line by a whisker ahead of Cordon-Ragot and Verhulst to take the French title.