In the past few years, all eyes have been on Sylvain Chavanel, Matthieu Ladagnous, Arnaud Demare, Sebastien Turgot and Damien Gaudin when it comes to defending the French colours in the cobbled classics but yesterday a new name knocked on the door. Vincent Jerome (Europcar) put in an outstanding ride to finish the Tour of Flanders in 11th and the Frenchman was pleased to have been up there battling with the likes of Peter Sagan and John Degenkolb.

No one had great expectations for Team Europcar in yesterday's Tour of Flanders but the French team punched above its weight in a race loaded with classics stars. While powerhourses like Cannondale, Lotto Belisol and Giant-Shimano failed to put a rider in the top 10, the small French team almost got one of the coveted spots when Vincent Jerome finished 11th.

Jerome is certainly no new kid on the block. In fact, the 29-year-old has been a professional with his current team since 2006 but he has had a very gradual progression. In 2011 he proved his potential on the rough surface when he won the race known as the Breton Paris-Roubaix, Tro-Bro Leon, and last year the started to mix it up with the best in the biggest cobbled classics, hinting that something could be in store.

In last week's Three Days of De Panne he finished sixth overall to prove that he was in excellent condition for yesterday's big battle over the cobbles and it all came to fruition when he finished an excellent 11th in one of the biggest races of the year.

"It was an eventful race from the first passage of the Oude Kwaremont," he told L'Equipe. "I crashed on the Paddestraat (km 148) and I lost a lot of energy. The guys waited for me and brought me back which was a great help. I tried to never lose morale. 

"I came from behind and tried to move up. Alexandre Pichot positioned me for the last passage of the Kwaremont. I missed me a little bit to try to follow the best. I didn't blow up but when they accelerated, pfff... After all, it's Cancellara, Sagan, Boonen. They are difficult to follow.

"It is a great satisfaction. I was pleased with myself. I have no regrets on behalf of myself or my team. I attacked 3km from the finish because there was no cooperation in my group.

"What is unfortunate is not to finish in the top 10. Eleventh is a disappointment. We wanted to put a team rider in the top 10. The result is positive. I finished in a group with Sagan, Degenkolb. They are big riders."

Despite his good performance, he will play a support role at next week's Paris-Roubaix.

"It will be the second Paris-Roubaix in my careerm" he said. "It will be difficult to play my card. In the team, we haveAlexandre Pichot and Jimmy Engoulvent. Why not take the early break?"