Etixx - Quick-Step riders Julian Alaphilippe and Pieter Serry made a 15-rider select group at 198km Classic Sud Ardèche, but it was Eduardo Sepulveda (Bretagne - Séché Environnement) who won the race, just a few seconds ahead of Julien Loubet (Team Marseille 13 KTM), and 10" ahead of Fabio Felline (Trek Factory Racing). Serry finished 7th out of the group including Felline.
Alaphilippe was aggressive earlier in the race, but eventually was unable to maintain contact. The peloton splintered into several groups and finished at different times.
"I had to help Gianni Meersman in the sprint sprint but it did not smile for our team in the final," Alaphilippe told Directvelo. "I think he was the victim of a crash. I had to follow attacks early in the race. But I was not very good, it was only my second race of the season. I am in search of form. It has to come back. I did the race but it was not terrible."
Etixx - Quick-Step looks next to La Drome Classic on Sunday. La Drome Classic is a 201km race with 15 total climbs, including a final lap with four.
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