Anthony Turgis (Cofidis) confirmed his huge talent by taking a solo win on a dominant day for his Cofidis team at Classic Loire-Atlantique. Having placed five riders in the decisive 8-rider group, the team had cards to play and it was Turgis who made the right solo move to take the win. Loic Chetout beat Kevin Ledanois (Fortuneo-Vital Concept) in the sprint for second while Kenneth Vanbilsen and Florian Senechal made it four riders from Cofidis in the top 5!

We have gathered a few reactions.

Anthony Turgis after Cofidis domination: It’s easy to ride when it’s like that

"It was a real race for punchers,” Turgis told Directvelo. “The attacks never stopped. Often the home riders are much more used to splitting the field than the professionals so they have more chances on this kind of course. They are not afraid of riding ahead and anticipating which I did in the beginning. I was then joined by teammates and the team was on top. We did not know who had the best sensations and who would win but it was a golden opportunity for us. We took a lot of fun to be so many, and to have five out of eight made us happy. It's easy to ride when it's like that.

”Whether it's me or another does not change anything, the joy is there for everyone and I hope it will continue like that. I said this morning before the race that we had beautiful cards for the sprint but we had a very offensive team so we had to see how it would unfold. We ended up at the front and with four laps to go we decided to try something. We were surprised to find so few at the front but it is thanks to the team. When we unite all our strength, it makes a big engine and inevitably it goes very fast.

”I just talked to my teammates and it was clear that I was probably the coolest of all. I would also like to thank them for their trust and for letting me go. The race was really perfect for us.

“I have felt the strength come recently after good work this winter. It's been two to three weeks without racing run so I have accumulated large training loads. I hope that my form will continue to improve until my goal in the Ardennes."

U23 world champion back on the podium: I couldn’t do anything against Cofidis

"I think I had the legs to win. Tactically I did not make any mistakes but when you are up against a team that does a perfect race, there is nothing to do,” Ledanois told Directvelo.

“Usually this is not Cofidis so they surprised me, especially with such a young group. It shows that when we are motivated we can do great things and there is no age limit. I knew everyone at the front as they are of my generation. It's nice to share moments like this with friends in front even if we are opponents on the bike.

“When I saw that we still had [teammate] Pierrick (Fedrigo) forty seconds behind with 1.5 lap to go, I thought that with all the efforts that had been used, it was going to be very hard for him to return. I kept workingwith Cofidis to not get everyone back. I then followed Loïc Chetout when he attacked and told myself it would be good. Theoretically they did not have to chasebehind, apart from Vanspeybrouck and Offredo but Florian Senechal brought the group back with 15km to go. I did not really understand his tactics, knowing that Loïc is faster than me in the sprint so he had won the race. Now that's racing and I still managed to get the podium so it's good.

“I'm happy for Anthony and Loïc who are two buddies. The result is as it is and we were lucky that the eight-rider group stayed away.

“Since the beginning of the season I have been unlucky with a crash at the Etoile de Bessèges. I spent a week away from the bike and I immediately started to race but I was not prepared at all. So I again took a break fora week before leaving for a training camp in Spain to build the bases. Last week I was at Paris-Troyes and today I showed that if I have the time to train without physical problems, I'm able to play the leading roles.”

FDJ admit defeat to superior Cofidis team
The birth of his second daughter this week did not prevent Laurent Pichon from having a solid return to competition. After three weeks off, the Breton of the FDJ team made a good comeback in the Classic Loire Atlantique, with his performance adding to that of Yoann Offredo who was seventh.

"Admittedly," says FDJ sports directorThierry Bricaud," there was the Cofidis team and then the rest in a very competitive race. I think it will make some smile that the riders who did this round of the Coupe de France are more tired physically than those who did Milan-San Remo!"

The sports director highlights various attacks that included Olivier Le Gac, Yoann Offredo and Laurent Pichon. Offredo was in the final 8-rider group.

"We were not very strong compared to Cofidis who placed five of their riders in the breakaway of eight but we had Jérémy Roy and Marc Fournier who returned to racing, and Laurent Pichon also but he still did well. There were echelons at every turn and 60 kilometers from the finish, there were only 37 riders in the race. I note that in difficult circumstances, we were present until the end! " 

The arrival of the Classic Loire Atlantique took place at the same time as Milan-San Remo and Bricaud followed Arnaud Démare's historic victory from the car. 

"Yvon Madiot jumped into my car and we did not miss the last kilometers of La Primavera. We experienced a great moment for the FDJ team."

Wanty-Groupe Gobert captain: I watched Chavanel too much

With a 12th place for Dimitri Claeys and an 11th place for Antoine Demoitié on Sunday, the weekend of racing in the French Loire region didn't turn out as expected. 

“We just need that little bit of luck," sports director Jean-Marc Rossignon declared. "On Saturday, in the Classique Loire-Atlantique, our riders were very motivated but reacted too late at every move. Dimitri Claeys counter-attacked in the final but it was just too late then." 

“I watched Sylvain Chavanel too much, I think," Dimitri Claeys said. "I saw him as the man to beat in this race, especially after how he rode in Paris-Nice. Obviously this was the wrong chance to make. It was a hard race because of the course, the speed and the wind. Only me and Antoine Demoitié finished.”