Bryan Coquard proved that Nacer Bouhanni and Arnaud Demare are not the only great sprint talents in France when he beat the latter to win the first stage of the Tour de Picardie. Having beaten one of the world's best sprinters, the young Frenchman saw it as an important sign that he is getting closer to the world elite.

One week ago Arnaud Demare seemed to be almost unbeatable in the Four Days of Dunkirk but today Bryan Coquard proved how to get the better of the FDJ rider in a bunch sprint. For the second year in a row, he won a stage in the Tour de Picardie when he emerged as the strongest in the bunch kick.

After last year's great start to his professional career, Coquard has had a harder time in 2014, partly because he has done bigger races and even tried his hand in the Ardennes classics. Hence, he was pleased with today's victory which proves that he getting closer to the world elite.

"It was my first race after Fleche Wallone and I did not feel the tip-top," he told L'Equipe. "When Arnaud (Démare) launched the sprint, I was a little bit behind but I sprinted like a track rider and got back to him.

"This is a victory that means a lot because it is a sign of nice things and shows that I gradually approach the world's best sprinters.

"Demare lost a battle but not the war because he took bonuses in the final intermediate sprint. We will try to keep the jersey, but my Tour de Picardie is already successful. The rest will be a bonus."