Johan Le Bon (FDJ) put a disappointing spring season behind him when he returned to his best with a victory in the evening prologue at the Boucles de la Mayenne. The TT specialist covered the 4.5km distance in 5.48 to go 3 seconds faster than Victor Campenaerts (Topsport Vlaanderen) and take both the stage victory and the leader’s jersey in the four-day race.

Having shown glimpses of his great talent for the classics and time trials, Johan Le Bon had great hopes for the spring season. However, the talented Frenchman was set back by illness and after he had abandoned the Driedaagse van de Panne, he put a premature end to the first part of his season.

Le Bon abandoned the Grand Prix de la Somme in early May but since then he has had time to focus on his recovery and training. He made his return to competition last weekend when he finished 18th in the Grand Prix de Plumelec but it was his performance one day later in the Boucles de l’Aulne that marked him out as one to watch.

Le Bon rode an aggressive race and made a late attack that almost gave him the win. In the end, he was caught just 300m from the line and had to settle for 11th but the performance marked him out as the big favourite for today’s 4.5km prologue in the Boucles de la Mayenne.

Le Bon fully proved that he is back at his best level as he was the only rider to go break the 5.50 barrier on the technical course in Laval. Being the third last rider down the ramp, he went faster than anyone else and so took both the stage win and the leader’s jersey.

"This victory makes me really happy," he told Directvelo. "This is my first success on a in a .1 race. I have previously won .2 races but now I have opened my account. It's only two weeks since I returned to competition. I had been away for two months due to mononucleosis. It was not an easy time but I was not alone. Thanks to my family and my team, I worked hard to get back. I really thank them. I now prepare for the Championships of France so it's good to be fit now. And Mayenne is special for us.

"I really wanted this one. I enjoyed it and it is a great satisfaction. In March, I felt big tiredness. I had mononucleosis. I returned in late April and had trained well but my tiredness returned for two weeks. I tried to really be in tune with my feelings and my body. Once I had managed to train for five hours, I returned in Châteaulin but I was not 100% of what I'm capable of."

"I had confidence in the turns and I did a good race. I had the same force even if I still miss something. Together we ith Seb Joly, my coach, it was decided to do it day to day. Now I'll try to hang onto the leader's jersey here and then I'm fine in my preparation for the championships of France."

Manager Marc Madiot had already predicted the win after last Sunday's race.

"When I saw his attitude before his start I realized that Jojo would win. He was ready and he did a great race, determined, safe in the turns, strong on the cliinbs! There were no mistakes."

Le Bon's teammate Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier finished seventh in the prologue.