Dorian Godon (Decathlon-Ag2R) won the French road cycling championship on Sunday, on Sunday, in the Herbiers (Sunday), after an intense and selective race.
“I knew that I was going to make a very good result today, from the first round. I was really in a big day,” said the winner, 29, at the microphone of Eurosport.
“I was worn by the public and my girlfriend: it’s been a year since she said that I will be champion of France here. She believed in me,” he added.
“The whole team did a great job. We made the right decisions at the right time,” said Godon.
Paul Lapeira’s teammate, titled last year, managed to thwart the collective force of Groupama-FDJ which was in the outposts throughout the race. But his leader Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ) had to admit beaten on the line and settle for second place.
The other big favorite in the race, Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B & B Hotels), was quickly isolated in front. But he still took a good third place, after the 2nd during the French time trial championship on Thursday.
Despite a stifling heat, with a ground temperature which rose to 50 degrees Celsius and 37 degrees in the air, the tempo was breathless during the 13 laps of the 16.5 km circuit.
Three laps from the end, a group of 19 runners who were all the favorites made the hole.
New doubled with Bruno Armirail on the time
Despite a baroud of honor of the title champion Lapeira, who was alone in front for more than 18 km, but without ever making the difference, the arrival was judged between strong in the climb of Mont des Alouettes with 1.9 km at 4.7 % of slope.
Well -taken by Nicolas Prodhomme, Godon managed to overflow Grégoire a few tens of meters from the line, all in power.
Like last year, the French team realizes the double since Thursday, it was the Bagnérais Bruno Armirail who removed his 2nd consecutive title, the 3rd of his professional career, on the time trial in front of Kévin Vauquelin and his teammate Paul Seixas Grand Artisan of the title of Dorian Godon.
