After a promising prologue, FDJ continued in the same vein in the first stage that was won by Belgian Jens Debusschere (Lotto-Soudal) after a sprint disrupted by a crash. Throughout the 150 kilometers the team rallied around Thibaut Pinot who avoided the carnage.

"We are very satisfied," says sports director Yvon Madiot. "The team is perfect. This stage was one of those we feared a little because it was short and nervous. We had split the team in two. Jérémy Roy, Benoît Vaugrenard and Cédric Pineau were working around their leader in the first part. Behind Johan Le Bon, Mathieu Ladagnous and Yoann Offredo, Thibaut and Steve Morabito were near the front with ten kilometers to go. It confirms my feeling after our training in January in Spain: Thibaut has gained in maturity. Today he was not at the back at one moment. And we are pleased that none of our riders were involved in the crashes."

The second stage tomorrow, with a final climb in Arezzo preceded by a circuitous approach will be a new test, but nothing seems to undermine the morale of the team.