The French National Championships open today with the road race which is pretty hilly and at just over 50km we should be a furiously fast race from the get go. This is one of the few countries where the favourites might actually win, and those favourites are quite a long list, with Koretzky, Demare and Gautier just a few of the top contenders.



So many teams have French rider we don't have any multiple squads from teams, even those French ones which could.


Maillet, Coquard and defending champ Vanderbiest are today's break, they were the first move and it stuck, many tried to join but were unsuccessful.


Ayubowan, RBC and even Festina despite having Coquard in the move are leading the chase, the break have never had more than two minutes so expect to see the favourites battle it out. Puma stay back a bit for the moment and watch out for Demare - the climb isn't really hard enough for the likes of Gautier to get rid of him in a sprint and Puma seem to know what they're doing to deliver him there. 25km to go and the break has 1'25 on the peloton.


Two laps and 11km to go and the peloton has caught Coquard and Vanderbiest but apparently off-camera Maillet attacked and he still has a decent gap of 33 seconds - will it possibly be enough?


Gautier attacks! The major favourite takes matters into his own hands on the penultimate time up the hill and passes Maillet, Demare is latched onto his wheel like hookgrass, which can't impress the Ayubown rider who'll undoubtedly try and shake him before the final sprint. Festina and RBC slow to move but eventually now forming a chase.


But in the background that isn't the trains of Festina and RBC coming forward - it's Pichon and Koretzky! The duo in pursuit of the leaders now as Kadri also starts his own move behind.


Gautier now as predicted trying to shake Demare, behind Koretzky and Pichon have fell into rhythm about 15 seconds behind the leaders with Kadri chasing them a further 10 seconds behind.


Kadri has successfully bridged to the porsuivants where Koretzky is chasing furiously, up ahead Demare had no problems responding to Gautier and is in prime position! the gap is only about 12 seconds though and the Puma rider will have to help Gautier at some point lest they get caught! 2.5km to go as they round the corner onto the final hill.


Gautier from far out now, still 1.4km to go, meanwhile the chasing trio within 10 seconds but Koretzky is spent so they too have to open up the sprint now, can anybody outdo the patiently waiting albeit wheelsucking Demare?


Gautier actually with a bit of a gap now with 1km left, Demare is trying to shut it whilst Pichon has almost caught him, also seems like it was just a minor blip for Koretzky as he's going for it, so is Kadri, who's badly placed at the back.


Gautier actually saving energy here, two turns and 700m to go as Pichon looks to overtake whilst Koretzky and Kadri also look good, Demare still waiting!


Positioning is key around this final corner and Gautier is perfectly there, Demare launches but it looks like too late whilst Pichon will have to take the long way around. The other two battling for fourth it seems.


Pichon fails to overtake as Demare swings in front of him, can the Puma rider come around Gautier for the win?



Good god that man is quick - Demare in no more than 50 metres having almost drawn level with Gautier - can the latter hold on for 200m? Pichon solidly third whilst the other two in a tight battle.



The answer is no - a well-rested Demare with an absolutely insane final 400m to take a victory that he made look easy - gautier is second after making the race whilst Pichon is a deserved third.


In an absolutely neck and neck finish Koretzky pips the hard-chasing but badly positioned Kadri for fourth.


Maillet is unluckily caught under the 1km banner as Festina dominate the pack sprint leadup here with Gougeard at the back, Levarlet not far behind.


Le Gac, Coppel, Lecusinier and Gougeard respectively are 6-9th for I-Gen Festina whilst Levarlet of Grieg rounds off our top 10!

Stage Results

1	Arnaud Demare	Team Puma - SAP	1h15'48
2	Cyril Gautier	Ayubowan!	s.t.
3	Laurent Pichon	RBC Pro Cycling	+ 9
4	Clement Koretzky	Team I-Gen - Festina	+ 15
5	Blel Kadri	Novatek-Panarmenian.net	s.t.
6	Olivier Le Gac	Team I-Gen - Festina	+ 2'17
7	Jerome Coppel	Team I-Gen - Festina	s.t.
8	Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier	Team I-Gen - Festina	s.t.
9	Alexis Gougeard	Team I-Gen - Festina	+ 2'26
10	Guillaume Levarlet	Grieg - Eftel	s.t.
11	JÈrÈmy Roy	Euskaltel	s.t.
12	Christopher De Souza	Euskaltel	s.t.
13	Kenny Elissonde	RBC Pro Cycling	s.t.
14	Tony Gallopin	Ayubowan!	s.t.
15	KÈvin Reza	Euskaltel	s.t.
16	Thibaut Pinot	Ayubowan!	s.t.
17	Maxime Bouet	Team I-Gen - Festina	s.t.
18	SÈbastien Ivars	Team UBS	s.t.
19	Yoann Paillot	Valio - DeLaval	s.t.
20	Christophe Laporte	Ayubowan!	s.t.
21	Thomas Bonnin	RBC Pro Cycling	s.t.
22	Rudy Molard	Generali - AXA	s.t.
23	Bryan Coquard	Team I-Gen - Festina	s.t.
24	Jocelyn Bar	Team Puma - SAP	s.t.
25	MikaÎl ChÈrel	La Poste p/b Mavic	s.t.
26	Pierre Rolland	Generali - AXA	s.t.
27	Romain Feillu	Aker - MOT	s.t.
28	Adrien Petit	Ayubowan!	s.t.
29	Brice Feillu	Arrinera	s.t.
30	Clement Chevrier	Team Puma - SAP	s.t.
31	Maxime Daniel	Team Puma - SAP	s.t.
32	Yannick Martinez	Eddie Stobart	s.t.
33	Julian Alaphilippe	Podium Ambition	s.t.
34	Arnold Jeannesson	Euskaltel	s.t.
35	ClÈment Venturini	World Cycling Centre	s.t.
36	Florian Morizot	RBC Pro Cycling	s.t.
37	Florian Senechal	Pendleton's	s.t.
38	Mathieu Bernaudeau	Team I-Gen - Festina	s.t.
39	Yoann Bagot	Novatek-Panarmenian.net	s.t.
40	Jocelin Maillet	Vontobel	s.t.
41	Romain Vanderbiest	VisitUkraine p/b Nemiroff	s.t.
42	Matthieu Ladagnous	Pendleton's	s.t.
43	Mathieu Drujon	La Poste p/b Mavic	s.t.
44	Geoffrey Soupe	Podium Ambition	s.t.
45	Anthony Lavoine	Arrinera	s.t.
46	Julien Berard	Arrinera	+ 3'08
47	Kevin Ledanois	Generali - AXA	s.t.
48	Cedric Lebris	Arrinera	s.t.
49	Nacer Bouhanni	Euskaltel	s.t.
50	Fabrice Jeandesbosz	Generali - AXA	s.t.
51	William Bonnet	Euskaltel	s.t.
52	Michel Sibilla	Novatek-Panarmenian.net	s.t.
53	Ludovic Bret	Euskaltel	s.t.
54	Marc Machado	Vontobel	s.t.
55	Jean Helwani	Xero Racing p/b Octagon	s.t.
56	Stelly Robert	cycleYorkshire s/b ASDA-Savers	s.t.
57	Thomas Boudat	Generali - AXA	s.t.
58	Fabien Taillefour	Generali - AXA	s.t.

After a fantastic road race, we head to the time trial with a number of favourites battling it out for the converted tricolor jersey.



Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier (TIF) was first out of all the riders, so the initial benchmark was going to be high! 1h18'24" would the time, and could be difficult to beat on this sort of course.



The time would stand until Mathieu Bernaudeau (TIF) would hit the course, and smash the time of his team-mate. 1h17'22" would be the new time to beat.


Matthieu Ladagnous (PEN) and Sébastien Ivars (UBS) would go close the time of Bernaudeau but it was no cigar! However, his time was no match for Stelly Robert (YAS) who destroyed the course and set a time of 1h16'38".


Yoann Paillot was one of the big favourites for today, but struggled over the entire route. Finishing 8" down on Robert, he would have to settle for a podium place as a minimum.



Paillot struggled so much that he would be caught and passed by defending champion Jerome Coppel (TIF). There was no stopping the TT maestro, as he not only bettered Roberts time, but smashed it into next week! Coppel would wearing the tricolour for another season for the Festina team.


Stage Results

1	Jerome Coppel	Team I-Gen - Festina	1h14'04
2	Stelly Robert	cycleYorkshire s/b ASDA-Savers	+ 2'34
3	Yoann Paillot	Valio - DeLaval	+ 2'42
4	Mathieu Bernaudeau	Team I-Gen - Festina	+ 3'18
5	Matthieu Ladagnous	Pendleton's	+ 3'28
6	Sébastien Ivars	Team UBS	+ 3'57
7	Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier	Team I-Gen - Festina	+ 4'20
8	Tony Gallopin	Ayubowan!	+ 5'02
9	Florian Morizot	RBC Pro Cycling	+ 5'23
10	Pierre Rolland	Generali - AXA	+ 5'26
11	Maxime Bouet	Team I-Gen - Festina	+ 5'32
12	Ludovic Bret	Euskaltel	+ 6'01
13	William Bonnet	Euskaltel	+ 6'11
14	Jean Helwani	Xero Racing p/b Octagon	+ 7'27
15	Cedric Lebris	Arrinera	+ 7'54
16	Jérémy Roy	Euskaltel	+ 8'07
17	Guillaume Levarlet	Grieg - Eftel	+ 8'16
18	Yannick Martinez	Eddie Stobart	+ 8'35
19	Mikaël Chérel	La Poste p/b Mavic	+ 8'36
20	Kévin Reza	Euskaltel	+ 8'57
21	Clément Venturini	World Cycling Centre	+ 9'07
22	Alexis Gougeard	Team I-Gen - Festina	+ 9'20
23	Geoffrey Soupe	Podium Ambition	+ 9'24
24	Romain Vanderbiest	VisitUkraine p/b Nemiroff	+ 9'37
25	Arnold Jeannesson	Euskaltel	+ 9'38
26	Thibaut Pinot	Ayubowan!	s.t.
27	Bryan Coquard	Team I-Gen - Festina	+ 9'46
28	Brice Feillu	Arrinera	+ 9'55
29	Anthony Lavoine	Arrinera	+ 9'58
30	Yoann Bagot	Novatek-Panarmenian.net	+ 9'59
31	Romain Feillu	Aker - MOT	+ 10'05
32	Fabrice Jeandesbosz	Generali - AXA	+ 10'10
33	Fabien Taillefour	Generali - AXA	+ 10'15
34	Rudy Molard	Generali - AXA	s.t.
35	Clement Koretzky	Team I-Gen - Festina	+ 10'17
36	Florian Senechal	Pendleton's	+ 10'18
37	Laurent Pichon	RBC Pro Cycling	s.t.
38	Kevin Ledanois	Generali - AXA	+ 10'21
39	Blel Kadri	Novatek-Panarmenian.net	+ 10'23
40	Cyril Gautier	Ayubowan!	+ 10'34
41	Olivier Le Gac	Team I-Gen - Festina	+ 10'35
42	Arnaud Demare	Team Puma - SAP	s.t.
43	Julien Berard	Arrinera	+ 10'39
44	Clement Chevrier	Team Puma - SAP	+ 10'44
45	Christophe Laporte	Ayubowan!	+ 10'50
46	Thomas Bonnin	RBC Pro Cycling	+ 10'51
47	Mathieu Drujon	La Poste p/b Mavic	+ 10'55
48	Juan Pablo Wilches	Control Team	+ 10'57
49	Julian Alaphilippe	Podium Ambition	+ 10'59
50	Jocelyn Bar	Team Puma - SAP	+ 11'01
51	Marc Machado	Vontobel	+ 11'03
52	Jocelin Maillet	Vontobel	+ 11'21
53	Kenny Elissonde	RBC Pro Cycling	+ 11'25
54	Thomas Boudat	Generali - AXA	+ 11'42
55	Adrien Petit	Ayubowan!	+ 11'49
56	Michel Sibilla	Novatek-Panarmenian.net	+ 12'02
57	Christopher De Souza	Euskaltel	+ 12'12
58	Maxime Daniel	Team Puma - SAP	+ 12'57
59	Nacer Bouhanni	Euskaltel	+ 13'18