Romain Bardet continued his rise towards the stars and the successful season start for Ag2r-La Mondiale when he won today's Drome Classic. The Frenchman was happy to show his versatility a week after climbing with the best in the Tour of Oman and has now set his sights on Paris-Nice.

Romain Bardet has long indicated that he is a great rider in the making and today he further underlined his potential. Having already won the Tour de l'Ain overall and finished 15th in the Tour de France, he showed his potential as a one-day rider when he won today's Drome Classic.

Yesterday Bardet had come close to the win in the Classic du Sud-Ardeche but his 6-rider breakaway had been caught with 1km to go. Today he was again a protagonist in the very aggressive race that saw new front groups emerge constantly.

Just before the penultimate climb, he was one of several riders to join a 6-rider front group and a little later he made it into a strong group with his teammate Mikael Cherel. With a bigger group with Gianni Meersman approaching fast from behind, he knew that something had to be done and he launched a brave attack on his own that allowed him to take a beautiful solo win.

"This is a collective success that rewards the work of the team," he said. "We did not win yesterday and this morning we left with the same desire. I want to thank all my teammates without whom this victory would have been impossible. There is a really good atmosphere in the team. Everyone works in the same direction and we are all super motivated and happy to be together, both riders and staff. We have a lot of fun together, both on and off the bike, and the results follow.

"The race was very challenging and everyone was really into from the start. The AG2R La Mondiale team was represented in all the important moves and my teammates kept me well placed throughout the day. We had some information about the course from our locals, Guillaume (Bonnafond) and Axel (Domont). In any case, it really is a pleasure to continue the successful series of victories of the team that we have had for several weekends. It is important to win from the beginning of! It validates the winter work and it is important to approach major targets."

"Yesterday the guys did a great job in the Classic du Sud-Ardeche," he added to Directvelo. "I wanted them to do the same today. We had a race that reminded me of the amateur races. I think it must have been very interesting to follow. We always had to stay attentive. Mentally and physically, it was challenging. Even Philippe Gilbert told me that he was empty. Then it must have been hard for many.

"Today the guys did a great job. I had to close a gap to get the front before the penultimate climb. Then I attacked on the final climb. I didn't want to sprint against Gianni Meersman. I preferred to try everything to the maximum rather than waiting for the sprint and take 3rd or 4th. After the last descent, Mikael [Cherel] and I could launch attacks.

"This is the first time I lift my arms as a professional. I am a puncheur and it is a great satisfaction. I don't want to limit myself to one role, like a grand tour contender. Last week I finished in the top 10 in a mountain stage of the Tour of Oman. I want to keep this versatility.

"We have had success since the beginning of the season. When I see that we are now five Ag2r riders who come from the CF Chambery, it makes me happy. We have a common understanding. The team is very united and has success. It may sound a bit "cheeky" to say this but the victories keep coming. JC [Peraud] won the Mont Faron stage in the Tour Med and Carlos Betancur won in the Tour du Haut-Var last week.

"The weekend has been really nice. I came here by car. I took the opportunity to look at the final 40km of the Classic du Sud-Ardeche and I took notes. My father and grandmother were here. This is the race closest to my home. I love this race. The courses are very interesting and the organizers do a great work.

"Next week I will be a co-leader at the Paris-Nice with Jean-Christophe Peraud. It is a big goal. The team continues to let me grow without pressure. This is only my third professional year. They say that you reach your maximum on the bike at 28-29 years and I only turned 23 in November. I still want to improve. The team offered me a career plan when I started. It suits me well. I never make big performances but I am always regular. I try to be there from February to October."

Sports director Didier Jannel was pleased to see his team win for the third weekend in a row.

"The race was hard from the beginning to the end with lots of wind and echelons," he said. "The team was present from the start when we had six riders in the first group and then we always had a guy in the front in the important moments. In the end, we found ourselves with Mika (Cherel), Guillaume (Bonnafond) and Romain (Bardet) at the front. 

"Like yesterday, we saw a team AG2R La Mondiale that goes on the attack. We knew that this was the tactic to follow because we were not able to win in a sprint. Romain perfectly followed these instructions by launching three attacks on the final climb. He did well to keep going, especially since we saw the group of Philippe Gilbert coming back in the final kilometres. 
 

"It has been some great racing. The team was omnipresent and I am very pleased with the way we rode. The team ends the weekend well and I cross my fingers that it will continue."