The new French road cycling champion is called Valentin Madouas! The Breton puncher, who had not yet lifted his arms this season, won alone this Sunday in Cassel, after a tiring race of 224 kilometers, in oppressive heat. A very good omen six days before the start of the Tour de France.
The situation settled down 27 kilometers from the finish, when David Gaudu attacked on the climb to Porte d’Aire. Madouas followed him, before Rudy Molard picked up in turn to form a 100% Groupama-FDJ trio up front. Gaudu and Molard then let go, leaving Madouas to finish the job solo.
Despite a chain jump which forced him to change bikes on the last lap, the native of Brest crossed the finish line 1’48” ahead of his pursuers. In 1995, his father Laurent won the bronze medal at La Cluse-et-Mijoux, the year Eddy Seigneur won.
Rudy Molard took down Julien Bernard and Tony Gallopin (Trek-Segafredo) on the final climb to take second place. Bronze went to Bernard. Only about fifteen runners finished the race. Distanced a hundred kilometers from the finish when he was one of the favorites, Julian Alaphilippe did not go to the end.