Tim De Troyer has won the Tour du Finistère. It's the first UCI win for the 24-year old Belgian. Jérôme Baugnies joined De Troyer on the podium. Frederik Backaert finished in seventh place and therefore rounded up a very successful day for Team Wanty-Groupe Gobert in this UCI 1.1-race in Brittany, France. 

“After the setbacks in Gabon where I crashed in the second stage and a not so succesful Spring campaign, I am happy that things worked out today. The good sensations returned in Paris-Roubaix last Sunday and also in the Flèche Brabanconne on Wednesday. This morning I felt really motivated and also during the race I felt something nice would be possible. You can't know that you are actually going to win but I am very happy I did. I did win a kermesse before but this victory is a wonderful one," De Troyer reacted euphorically.

The Tour du Finistère with start in Saint-Everzac and finish in a rainy and cold Quimper took place on the hilly roads of Brittany, After 21 kilometres four riders got to go clear but Matthieu Boulo (Bretagne-Séché Environnement), Julien El Farès (Team Marseille 13-KTM), Nicolas Baldo (Team Vorarlberg) and Yoann Barbas (Armée de Terre) never got more than 4,5 minutes.

“On the first of four local laps which included a tough climb, everything came back together. And that's where the race exploded with attacks by Voeckler and Di Gregorio," Baugnies reacts.

"At two laps from the finish I joined the front of the race. In the last lap Tim joined us. He attacked in the final and I kept my legs still. In the sprint for second place I chose Julien Simon's wheel and passed him." 

“In the last lap a small group put in a counterattack," his teammate De Troyer adds. "I benefited from the fact that Jérôme was up front but did take over later on in the chase. We rode towards the front of the race quite easily in the end. At the start of the finish climb I attacked. I wanted to play all or nothing and got a good gap immediately. This victory is fantastic."

"I knew I was in good form at the moment," he told Directvelo. "I did ​​a beautifule final in Paris-Roubaix last Sunday. I finished 13th. During the week, I also did the Brabantse Pijl where I had a good feeling. I escaped with a CCC Polsat rider and I think I could have been with Ben Hermans who won the race. 

"I knew that the form was there. I had told the team that I came here to do something. On the final circuit, I thought that Thomas Voeckler would win when he was alone in the lead. In the end, we caught him. At that time I had the idea to attack in the finale. That's what I did. I attacked on the last climb with another rider but he failed to hold my wheel. I turned around 400 meters from the line, I realized that I would win. 

"With the rainy weather, it was hard but it was the same for everyone. In Belgium, there is often rain. It is normal, we use a rain jacket and let's go!"

“It was a great team effort as well," Baugnies concludes. “Tom Devriendt and Frederik Backaert really were strong today as well. I am happy to be where I am now after my training camp: on time and on schedule for my next season goals: Flèche Walloons, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and GP Frankfurt." 

On Sunday the seven Wanty-Groupe Gobert riders led by sports director Steven De Neef will ride the Tro Bro Léon, a spectacular race on Brittany's unpaved roads which is dubbed a mini Paris-Roubaix.

“I hope to show myself there again and do something nice again," De Troyer smiles. "But first a good night's sleep and enjoy this victory."