Bretagne had entered the 4 Days of Dunkirk with the hope that Arnaud Gerard could mix it up with the best in the overall standings but after the first stage, the team has changed its focus. A broken derailleur just when the peloton split in the crosswinds ruined Gerard's race and now it will be all about stage wins for the French team.

One year ago Bretagne finished 2nd in the 4 Days of Dunkirk with Florian Vachon and this year they again hoped to be in the battle for the overall victory in the 5-day race. This time it was Arnaud Gerard that was the designated leader and given the responsibility of fighting for the GC in Northern France.

After the very windy opening stage where the peloton split in two big groups, the team has been forced to change its focus though. Bad luck ruined the race for Gerard and so the team only had Pierre-Luc Perichon and Jean-Marc Bideau in the first group that sprinted for the win.

"It was a bad day," sports director Manu Hubert said. "Our designated leader, Arnaud Gerard, had a problem with his derailleur in Cassel, on the cobbles. his is unfortunate for Arnaud and for the team. It destroys our chances to do well in this 4 Days of Dunkirk.

"We will trust Pierre-Luc Périchon and Jean-Marc Bideau for the overall and won't surrender easily. All riders will have carte blache to play their cards and will try to be in the breakaways. We need to ride smartly. Some stages may suit us. We will target individual stages. Arnaud is in great form but far down on GC. He may get more chances than if he had been in the first group."