The last stage of Etoile de Bessèges was driven today and Tobias Ludvigsson came out as the big winner. Not only did he win the TT, he also managed to pass everybody else and reached the top of the final podium in th race. But during the TT, the wind changed and that made Tony Gallopin finish 7th.

Gallopin finished 7th, 23 seconds behind Ludvigsson of Giant-Shimano. His team-mate Maxime Monfort finished 12th in the final GC, 39 seconds after Ludvigsson. Sports director Jean-Pierre Heynderickx is very happy with the five days of racing in France and he now looks back.

"When Maxime Monfort and Tony Gallopin had to ride their time trial, the wind had turned since the reconnaissance. They should have ridden the time trial differently and should have been faster in the beginning to set a better time.”

He says the results of today aren’t what they had hoped for, but it is good to see the riders are in a good shape. He also states that yesterday’s finish wasn’t hard enough for Gallopin.

“The results aren't what we had hoped for, today we wanted to finish in top five, but the condition of the riders is okay. We didn't have a pure sprinter to battle for stage wins. Gallopin got beaten yesterday by Bryan Coquard and John Degenkolb, the finish wasn't tough enough for him. But it looks good for the upcoming races."

Heynderickx praises the neo-pros and youngsters of the team and says Monfort and Gallopin is satisfied with what they have seen.

"Our youngsters – De Bie, Breen and Vallée – have ridden a good Etoile de Bessèges. Vallée set a good time today, the wind hadn't turned yet when he rode. Our neo-pros showed that they want to work for the team. Tony Gallopin and Maxime Monfort are very satisfied with that, they also take care of the young riders."