The prologue of the Tour de l'Eurometropole was not a friendly start. The Mont-Saint-Aubert, the usual place of a training camp for the FDJ team for the classics, promised to give sore legs and required a total effort. While the victory went to Gougeard (ag2r-La Mondiale), Johan Le Bon did a good time by taking seventh place, 6 seconds off the podium.

"Gougeard was superior but Johan did a good race even if he was a bit stuck at some point. It was a demanding course with a series of false flats before the finish. He had strength," sports director Frederic Guesdon said.

The first step seems to be one for the sprinters and FDJ has good cards to play with youngsters Marc Sarreau and Lorrenzo Manzin. 

"There  is a beautiful field here but we have the team to express ourselves at this level and to get results," Guesdon said.