Audrey Cordon-Ragot wins women's French time trial title

Audrey Cordon-Ragot (Trek-Segafredo) remains far behind Jeannie Longo who claimed eleven gold medals since the French national championship for time trialing was introduced back in 1995 in Les Herbiers where the prestigious Chrono des Nations ITT is still organised as an end to normal European seasons. 

The 31-year-old Breton cyclist who took her first blue, white and red jersey for road racing on home soil in August last year claimed her fifth title against the clock in Epinal in the East of France after dominating the event consecutively from 2015 to 2018. 

She outclassed defending champion Juliette Labous (Team DSM), by almost thirty seconds on the 26.3km course while Cédrine Kerbaol (Team Arkéa), aged 20 and also from Brittany, rounded out the podium with a deficit of 1:17. The latter was the first starter and occupied the hot seat for most of the event.

“Today’s race reminded me of two years ago when I lost my title because of a mechanical," Cordon-Ragot said. “It was very hot again. I usually don’t drink during a time trial but I forced myself to do so this time. It was crucial to handle the hard finale well. I started cautiously. When I saw at a check point that I was only seven seconds ahead of Cédrine [Kerbaol], I wondered if she had done something great or if I was slow. She did great. I congratulate her. I was flat out. Maybe I hurt myself more than the others did.”

Cordon-Ragot was coached on this occasion by B&B Hotels-KTM’s sport director and former Tour de France stage winner Samuel Dumoulin. “I’m very happy to get the jersey back," she added. “The French championship is always one of my biggest goals of the season. This year I’ve had to refocus after I was left out of the Olympic Games but I don’t see today’s victory as a revenge. I didn’t want to remain disappointed. It wanted to show that I still have my place at the high level.”

The race was also the first outing on the road for multiple world champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Absolute-Absalon-BMC) after 719 days. Two years after the national road race, she returned with satisfaction although she’s currently busy gearing up for the mountain biking at Tokyo’s Olympics. She had won three time trial titles from 2012 to 2014, between the reigns of Longo and Cordon-Ragot, who was also the runner up on those three occasions.

“I gave my best, so I’m not disappointed, whatever the result is." Ferrand-Prévot told Directvelo at the finish. “I think I made one of my best time trials for a long time. I came to continue my preparation to the Olympics. It was a great pleasure to have so many spectators cheering for me. Racing in the heat was a good test for Tokyo as well. We expect it to be hot and humid there.”

Epinal is the home of her partner, the former Olympic and world champion Julien Absalon. Ferrand-Prévot will also line up in the road race on Saturday morning. Cordon-Ragot will defend her other blue, white and red jersey.