Rudy Kowalski from the small Roubaix Lille Metropole team almost denied the WorldTour riders the win in yesterday's Boucles de l'Aulne when he launched a well-timed attack in the finale. In the end, he had to settle for third but the result proves that more is to come from the talented Frenchman.

Rudy Kowalski is not a household name in the world of professional cycling but yesterday he got close to a major result. Having made it into a 16-rider group in the finale of the Boucles de l'Aulne, one of the major French one-day races, he took his chance by launching an attack with a little more than 10km to go.

Kowalski was joined by Alexis Gougeard and the duo did a great job to keep their chasers - led by several riders from Cofidis and Europcar - at bay. On the final climb to the finish, however, he was unable to keep up with his companion and as he was also passed by a fast-finishing Remy Di Gregiorio, he had to settle for third.

"I'm pretty happy with my result," he told Directvelo. "In recent weeks, I lost form as I have pain in my left knee. I was in the break yesterday in Plumelec. Like yesterday, I approached the race in good way. I didn't think about my pain.

"We quickly found ourselves in a big group. I attacked with two laps to go. When I saw Alexis (Gougeard) joining me, I knew we could go far. I really believed in it when the gap reached 30'' and and when we still had 25'' with 3km to go. Remi Di Gregorio came very fast and he passed me in the final metres.

"Now I will take three days without touching the bike and then I will visit a physio in Lille. I will base my schedule on the opinion of the physio."