With a sprint finish on the cards in yesterday's French road race championships, Nacer Bouhanni had the perfect chance to prove his FDJ management wrong in their decision to favour Arnaud Demare in their selection for the Tour de France. However, the multiple Giro stage winner was beaten into second by his teammate and admits that Demare had been stronger on the day before going on to claim that there is a 95% chance that he will leave FDJ. 

Two years ago Arnaud Demare and Nacer Bouhanni sprinted against each other for the French road race title despite both riding for the FDJ team. Back then, Bouhanni emerged as the fastest, with a very disappointed Demare having to settle for second.

Today the scenario was exactly the same when a dominant FDJ team brough the 2014 championships down to a bunch sprint. Going into the race, manager Marc Madiot had made it clear that both riders would be allowed to do their own sprint and when they hit the finishing straight, it was Demare getting the lead-out with Bouhanni on his wheel.

When Demare launched his sprint, Bouhanni tried to come around him but failed to make up ground on his big rival. Hence, Demare took his first title while Kevin Reza (Europcar) completed the podium.

The occasion had been a perfect one for Bouhanni to prove his team management wrong in their decision to leave him off the Tour de France roster which will have Demare as its lead sprinter. The multiple Giro stage winner did nothing to hide his disappointment.

"It was a bad day," he said. "The team did a superb job for Arnaud and me. Throughout the race and in the sprint, they rode for us. In the last kilometres, we had Anthony Roux, Mickaël Delage, Arnaud and me. 

"But personally, I had no special feelings. I was much worse than last week. In the sprint, I stalled. I made a little progress but I could not get further. Arnaud was stronger than me today. It's like that, I have to admit that. There will be other sprints.

"The problem was not my moral. I am a professional cyclist, I train every day. I just focus on what I have to do. There are days when you feel stronger. At the Route du Sud, I felt very strong, in incredible shape. I was perhaps even stronger than I was in the Giro. But here again today I never had amazing experiences. I thought it was going to get better in the finale but I lacked strength in the last 200 meters.

"I will not make excuses, saying that it is because there has been a lot of talk about me in the press. Physically, it didn't work out but mentally I was ready. And then a sprint remains a sprint. I have won sprints being only at 80% of my potential. You always hope. 

"I am not going to hide that it's a big disappointment. When I sprint, I want to win. We were first and second with Arnaud; the team was superb. But personally I'm disappointed.

"I'll probably take a little break now. I have raced a lot this season. The Giro was extremely difficult, with the weather conditions, with passes at 2800m altitude, with snow. It may have left its mark.

"I was well-rested for the French championships. Now I will focus on a good final part of my season. My program is under discussion. I spoke quickly with [sports director] Martial Gayant. I should be back at the Eneco Tour. Then, depending on the course, why not do the Vuelta? Or the classics like the Grand Prix Plouay, Paris-Brussels? In any case, what motivates me the most, are racing World Tour races. That's why, in addition to the Eneco Tour, I will go to the Vuelta if the route is appropriate. 

"There is a 95% chance that I leave FDJ, but I still have not signed anything at the moment. I am in talks with a foreign team and Cofidis. I will make my decision in the coming weeks. At the finish, [manager] Marc Madiot told me he was proud of having me on the team, no matter what happens in the future. Arnaud and I are two great champions."