"Today the Circuit Sarthe second stage was divided in two. The first was a 84 kilometer short road race starting in Varades and bringing the peloton to Angers where a breakaway trio made it to the finish line and Anthony Roux (FDJ) took the stage. CULT Energy Pro Cycling’s Romain Lemarchand finished with the main bunch and was 5th overall after this stage.

CULT Energy Pro Cycling later today participated in the second stage part b of the French stage where a short time trial covering 6.8 kilometers in flat terrain was not surprisingly won by Adriano Malori (Movistar) in the race against the clock and he conquered the overall lead of the race as well.

D, Luke Roberts reports:

“In this morning’s stage, a breakaway group of three riders managed to outfox the bunch and stay away on a tricky final circuit. With the bunch left sprinting for 4th place, Russell [Downing] rolled in 18th. Our riders all arrived safely in the bunch, Romain slipped 3 positions on the GC down to 5th heading into the afternoon’s time trial. 

"Our riders were outgunned in the 7km TT stage, with some of the World Tour’s best TT specialists on the start line. Rasmus Guldhammer put in a reasonable performance and is still within reach of a top 10 GC, which will be sorted in tomorrow’s queen Stage."