France had two protour teams this year, however with Lafarge relegating and disbanding and with Auber to demote French cycling perhaps can feel sad about the relative success of its cycling fortunes. Bernard Hinault would have a field day with this lot!
The parcours for the national championships are one of the longest ...
There are two tough climbs in the 20km circuit both fairly short but contain 8% ramps and so should suit the punchaers. This seems to be a French niche these days, exciting attacking riders that often unfortunately protour teams do not have time for.
Arguably the most successful French rider this year was Jereme Coppel for his stage win and yellow jersey stint at the Tour if nothing else. Perennial Dauphine winner John Gadret was cruelly robbed of a year due to some financial problems but him and the current French national champion Mazet are here. Gadret's teammate Gautier is here and will have some chance but most of the best known contenders are from the CTour teams. Voeckler, Pinaeu (Bbox), Roux (UBS), Cherel (Pendletons) and Delage (Intesa) are names to be considered and there are certainly plenty of others who have a chance here.
Two men go early Kneisky (Carmeuse) and Brouzes (Auber)
Auber have two squads here and they are a team looking to make cuts as they squeeze into the Continental budgetary constraints. Their riders need to impress if they are to keep their contracts or at the very least earn contracts for next year.
We do get a couple of riders fall on this technical looking circuit, including Gautier but he and the others get back to the peleton soon enough. With 145km to go the gap has spiralled out to nine minutes but El Al and UBS are keeping an eye on things.
Three riders Duret (Pendletons), Perget (Bacardi) and Gautier (Lafarge) try an ambitious bridging move with 115km to go. But El Al's Romain Sicard, arguably one of Frances best young hopes, pulls them back in for his El Al leaders Calzati and Chavenel.
The lead two only had 1.35 at this point and with 92km left to race the El Al team sensibly let the breaks lead go out a bit as they take a breather. The chase starts again properly as we come over the 3 lap to go marker, where the lead two have three minutes.
Over the next lap the breaks lead is whittled down to 40 seconds and this proves the time for the fuse to be lit by Jerome Coppel.
The well supported other Jerome, Jerome Pineau responds quickly it is important not to let such a superb rouler too much leeway.
These two quickly overtake the breakaway and more riders are pouring out of the peleton sensing this is the key moment.
Delage (Intesa), Roux (UBS), Cherel (Pendletons), Levelet (Pearl Adidas) and Le Mevel (Auber) bridge across to the lead two. On the second of the two climbs it is noticable that El Al have stopped pacing suddenly as Chavanel now tries to move across. It's a big roar from the crowd as Casar (Carmuese) and Voeckler (Bbox) go with him.
Calzati (El Al) launches his bridging move soon after carrying yet more passengers in Gadret (France), Duret (Pendletons), Lelay (Intesa) and Mondory (Pearl).
The latter pearl rider cannot quite make it by the bell to sound the last lap and indeed is distanced. So we have 14 riders left to contest this:
Coppel, Le Mevel, Pineau, Voeckler, Delage, Lelay, Cherel, Duret, Chavanel, Calzati, Levelet, Roux, Gadret and Casar.
As they approach the first of the two climbs it is clear that Lelay and Le Mevel are cooked and the pace is pushed higher still as Coppel puts everything into an attack.
It is a good solo move and with 15 kms to go the expert TTer has a good 40 second lead. The others have to put in spurts of their own, first Leverlet attacks and then Delage as they get closer to Coppel. It is finally Casar and Gadret that gets some of the riders across.
Leverlet is not here in fact after his attack he blew completely, as did Delage and so now we have just six left inside the last 10kms.
Coppel, Gadret, Voeckler, Roux, Casar and Chavanel.
They crest the last of the hills and take this tricky descent, careful now this has caused crashes all day long. Coppel's back wheel slides into Chavanel's front wheel and both are down!
Casar does well to avoid the carnage but that is race over for those two as the riders behind overtake too.
This has eliminated the two fastest sprinters you would have to say from the six and now we have four fairly evenly matched riders in Voeckler, Rouz, Gadret and Casar. Tommy Voeckler is forced to lead em out with Gadret and Roux closely perched on his wheel... Casar seems knackered.
Into the last corner Gadret darts down the inside and Roux is forced to go the long way round.
As Voeckler fades Roux can overtake but he cannot reach John Gadret in time as the non alligned rider takes the French nationals.
Roux is second, Voeckler third, a shattered Casar is 4th. Cherel moved clear to take fifth ahead of Delage who sprints to take 6th. Chavanal and Coppel finish together in 11th and 12th.
Everyone expects Jerome Coppel to take this one and he should do. French time trialling is pretty strong but they did not quite do themselves justice in the team trial at the worlds.
His challenge should come from Sebastian Ivars (Wikipedia) and Bonnet (Lafarge). He also could be challenged by teammates Rolland and Bouet, with Vaugranard (Jack Wolfskin) and Bernardaeu (Festina) outside podium chances.
With a huge 15 man squad the early stages are dominated by Auber and they send they big hitters out early on a largely windless day.
Bouet and Rolland have their own private battle and it is Pierre Rolland who wins the day by 15 seconds!
Watching on the rollers in Jerome Coppel no doubt getting feedback from his teammates. The Auber management suddenly rush over to him as they see Bonnet (Lafarge) start, that clear is Coppel's cue!
Bonnet produces a very decent effort as he comfortably outdoes the two Auber riders who have set the fastest times.
Bonnet 18.11 45.32 1.05.52
Jerome Coppel is following Bonnet round though and he is absolutely tearing round.
He really pushes himself and sets a massive new best.
Coppel 17.49 44.32 1.04.28
Surely no-one can beat that, though Sebastian Ivars decided to go out immiediately after Coppel and see if he could match up.
Indeed Ivars managed to go pretty well but his battle was really with Bonnet
Ivars 18.10 45.26 1.05.46
Bernaudaeu could not really challenge the previous times only just eclipsing Bouet's time with a 1.06.21. But Benoit Vaugranard had a credible ride.
The Jack Wolfskin rider managed to sneak onto the podium late on.
