As a past winner of the race, Simon Gerrans was one of the big favourites in the GP Plouay and his Orica-GreenEDGE did a lot of work the Australian champion up for the win. In the end, he made the wrong decision when 7 riders escaped in the finale.

ORICA-GreenEDGE has finished outside the top ten at the GP Ouest France – Plouay this afternoon, missing out on a late escape group that held off a fast closing peloton.

Australian champion Simon Gerrans was the highest placed finisher in 51st position.  Sylvain Chavanel (IAM) took out the victory.

Sport director Matt White said the team had stuck to their strategy, taking charge of at the front of the peloton alongside Katusha.

“The race was going pretty much on plan for most of the day,” White said.

“The guys took the responsibility to control the breaks that were going all day.  

“One dangerous break went in the last hour of racing and we had to commit a couple of our boys to make sure that it didn’t go to the line.”

The day’s main seven-man breakaway survived until the closing kilometres. As predicted, the final climb proved crucial in proceedings and as the front group crested the climb a small split proved successful.  

“The break only got caught and both Simon and Jens Keukeleire were in the split over the top of the final climb with three kilometres to go,” White said.

“They just hesitated that second when the five or six guys went and that was it.”

Gerrans explained that a split second decision proved decisive in the final result.

“Jens and I went across the top of the last climb in the front group and a small group slipped off the front of that,” he said.

“Unfortunately we made a choice not to go with it and it was the wrong choice because that little group stayed away to the finish.

“A little bit disappointing results wise, but on the positive side of things Jens, (Michael) Albasini and I are all feeling strong for the remainder of the season.”