After yesterday's second place, Romain Hardy (Cofidis) was again in the mix when he finished fourth in stage 2 of the Route du Sud. He is still third overall.

"The Auber riders controlled the peloton all day," he told Directvelo. "My team did not have to pull. But in the finale, my teammates did a great job to position me. We had two cards with Rudy Molard and me. With 300m to go I was very well placed but it was a little early, I was in the wind. I was not able to follow Quentin Jauregui. But I'm happy with my place in the stage and overall. We'll see how it goes tomorrow and then I will focus on the French Championships. I am fit and the course suits me well."