Having trained hard since the Drome Classic in preparation of the Volta a Catalunya which starts today, Kevin Reza got a good start Saturday in the Classic Loire Atlantique where he finished 10th after have been on the attack all day.

Before the start, Reza was afraid of missing the race pace and he immediately tested himself by joining the first serious breakaway after 40km of fast racing. He was accompanied by Nauleau (Europcar), Duval (Roubaix-Lille Métropole), Guay (Auber 93) and Houle (AG2R-La Mondiale) before the first part of the pack whi had been by the wind, caught them.

"15 riders got clear," says FDJ sports director Yvon Madiot. "In this group, FDJ had Kevin. So he led the race all day without being able to match the final victorious attack by Alexis Gougeard (AG2R-La Mondiale) who won last year. Kevin did well but I can not be too pleased with the other riders in my team. Lorrenzo Manzin was ill during the race, Murilo Fischer was back after his crash in the Ruta del Sol, Arnaud Courteille who fractured his collarbone in Bessèges, made his comeback and Francis Mourey did his first road race."

Kevin Reza and Lorrenzo Manzin left the team before Sunday's Cholet Pays de Loire to travel to Catalonia and were replaced by Cédric Pineau who was ill and had to leave Tirreno-Adriatico during the sixth stage.