Pan flat course in France and we have a couple of sprinters here. Top favourites are Ayoubowan with actually both top sprinters: Vanderbiest and Petit.
Behind them also Fablok with a strong duo in Lavoine/Drujon.
Then Bouhanni, Demare, Feillu, Soupe, Coquard or Fonseca as next.
As soon as the first riders attack, we quickly see the interested teams today. Bouygues, Euskaltel, Festina and Ayubowan 1 chase them hard.
4 riders were first on the move:
Morizot (RBC)
Vuillermoz (Ayu 2)
Di Gregorio (Eddie)
Edet (Orange)
Behind them though lots of riders try to follow. Surprisingly Fablok`s co-sprinter/leadout one of them:
Drujon
Champion
Koretzky
Pineau
Pinot
Senechal
Viennet
Hardy
Paiani
But 4 riders of Ayubowan 1 are chasing them hard with some support by Euskaltel. None of their riders in the group and while Ayubowan 2 even has 2, the chances for a sprint win are higher. In especially as Vuillermoz punctures quickly after and drops back into the peloton.
With 27km to go they are all caught. So who next?
Coppel was expected. The top time trialist wants to beat the sprinters. He follows Lhotellerie, who went moments ago.
The sprinter teams form the trains. Or better, Euskaltel is forming theirs with a couple of sprinters hanging behind.
Bonnet-Reza-Bouhanni for them.
Just behind them it`s Vanderbiest with team mate Martinez behind him. No sign of Petit though, who could have given a perfect leadout.
Lavoine, Demare, Fonseca or Soupe as only other sprinters are in 15th positions behind a couple of helpers.
No sign of Coquard or Feillu.
Reza with a beast like leadout. He almost closes the gap to the dup in front and only Bouhanni and Vanderbiest follow.
Coppel/Lhotellerie are caught. The sprint has started and Demare himself is closing the gap a lot. Behind him Lavoine, Fonseca and Soupe.
Vanderbiest now next to Bouhanni under the Flamme Rouge.
The later 4 sprinters all a bit behind still.
Now the Ayubowan rider and top favourite goes into the lead and the gap is getting bigger to the next.
And he wins the French NC. Congrats to Ayubowan. Bouhanni with a good 2nd. But he did not have the speed until the very end.
Soupe completes the podium as he outsprints Lavoine, Fonseca and a struggling Demare in the end. Feillu with a late sprint to 7th.
The ITT was all about Coppel today. He is the clear favourite while Viennet and Mottin look as only ones close enough to attack him under normal circumstances.
Though it was Coppel`s team mate Paillot with a first huge mark. Big lead in the finish.
Bernaudeu, Mottin and Viennet all with horrible days and not able to attack him.
Does this mean free ride for Coppel?
Possibly. At least his first splits are better than Paillot`s. Though one rider surprised a lot as Bonnet passed him in the finish by a couple of seconds.
Coppel though has no problems at all. In the end he is 69s ahead to defend the French ITT championship.
