Kristoffer Halvorsen (Joker) confirmed that he is a future top sprinter in the making when he claimed an impressive win at the GP d’Isbergues which is the penultimate round of the Coupe de France series. After Vegard Breen (Fortuneo-Vital Concept) had been caught less than one kilometre from the finish, the Norwegian beat Romain Feillu (Auber 93) and Baptiste Planckaert (Wallonie) in the bunch sprint. Planckaert is now just one point behind Samuel Dumoulin (Ag2r) in the Coupe de France with one race to go in the prestigious series.

We have gathered a few reactions.

Joker: Halvorsen will become a big rider

Joker manager Gino Van Oudenhove told procycling.no about the win for Kristoffer Halvorsen

”It's absolutely stunning, stutter he appears, especially the way it is done. It is like a pro team. We had very good dialogue in the final about what we should do. We talked to each other and had strength left. So it's amazing. Nothing else to say. We implemented it so well and so strongly. But in the last half-season we have shown that we have a damn high level. It's so cool that we work to catch the break and that we do a lead-out. We do so and we win. It gives us a lot of respect.

”They had the desire to ride earlier but I did not think it was necessary. It was only five seconds. I thought that if we started to work, it would be closed pretty quickly. So my opinion was that we should wait until the last turn and bring our two strongest riders there.

”Suddenly when we came to the last 1.5 kilometers, I thought " we are cooked," but we did it anyway. I talked to them all the time and the priority was to bring the break back and so we had to look at the lead-out, but we managed both. It's wonderful when we hear them scream on the radio. It is great.

”When you look at the riders we have at present, we are really just a continental team on paper, with the way we ride and the level we have. Naturally World Tour is something else. This is 1.1 but you need to start somewhere. We're a very nice team this year and have only grown. To be able to win the race and see riders sacrifice themselves for Kristoffer is absolutely stunning for a sports director.

”We knew that he could do it. He could have been there yesterday too. He was second in Nokere and then he really opened our eyes. He just grew from threre. He is a good rider and is a super talent. Winning Grand Prix d'Isbergues at age 20… Just look at the results from previous years. This will be something big.”

Feillu after another near-miss: I miss the success

Romain Feillu (HP BTP-Auber 93) was second. He told Diretvelo:

“It was fast in the crosswind. It took time to calm down. It was not easy to manage in the finale. Team Joker managed their business. We feel that they were used to ride on wet roads, they were comfortable in the corners. It's still a podium for me ... I'm not far from winning but I do not get the chance to raise my arms just once. I miss the success. Luck has not been there this year with a big crash in May. I feel good in the team. I was well received. I do not win but we are there with the best. I rode all year with a smile, and that was important. It was a great year, I was up there for the win almost every weekend.” 

Lire la suite : http://www.directvelo.com/actualite/53544/grand-prix-d-isbergues-les-reactions

Planckaert: The Tour de Vendee will be a great finale in the Coupe de France

Baptiste Planckaert (Wallonie Bruxelles) finished 3rd. He told Directvelo:

"It was a successful day. The Tour de Vendée will be a real final. I hope to fo for victory and win the overall in the Coupe de France. In the last kilometers, the team rode a bloc. After much work, the train wasis gone. I still relied on Kevyn Ista to put me in the best position for the sprint. "
 

Roubaix attacker works for Barbier in Isbergues

Jérémy Leveau (Roubaix Lille Métropole) was in the break. He told Directvelo:

"We were asked to join the breakaways. The goal was to protect Rudy Barbier. He has good speed and is well placed in the standings of the Coupe de France. We wanted to avoid having to take responsibility for the chase. So I am pleased to have been in front. I had a good day. In the end, a new opportunity presented itself. I insisted to work for the team.”

Stölting miss out in Isbergeus crosswind

The deciding situation at the GP d’Isbergues – Pas de Calais (1.1) in Northern France was a stretch with crosswinds about 60 km from the finish that split the peloton into two echelons. Fabian Wegmann took 14th place in the sprint.

The 204.3 km race consisted of a long lap of 170 km followed by five laps of a finishing circuit in Isbergues. Four escapees got clear after about 40 km and quickly built an advantage of 4:25 minutes. The peloton was controlled by the sprinters’ teams who gradually brought back the break in the second half of the race.

The penultimate of nine climbs was followed by a section with strong wind where the peloton fell apart in echelons, eventually coming together in two big groups. Most riders from the second peloton abandoned the race when they saw they wouldn’t get back to the front. Fabian Wegmann was the only Team Stölting Service Group who made the first group.

The break of the day was caught soon afterwards; a new group of eight stayed 15-20 seconds ahead of the peloton for a long time, but they, too, were reeled in on the final kilometres. Kristoffer Halvorsen (Team Joker – Byggtorget) won the sprint where Wegmann finished in 14th place.

“It was a fast start until the break was away,” said Fabian Wegmann. “There was a circuit with two climbs on the big lap that we did twice. The second time, Direct Energie set a high pace up the climb, and right after the climb there was a crosswind. That’s where the peloton exploded, and we weren’t more than 80 riders in front. It would have been great to have some teammates, especially Carbel for the sprint, but things like this happen in an instant; if you’re just a bit too far back, then you’re out. I can be satisfied with the 14th place in the sprint.”

Jauregui: Breen destroyed our chances

Quentin Jauregui (AG2R La Mondiale) was caught with 1km to go. He told Directvelo:

"Direct Energie tried to make echelons. They were almost all there in the front. I was present with only five to six riders from other teams. When the peloton caught us, I attacked directly. Johan Le Bon worked well. Unfortunately, Vegard Breen skipped some turns. In addition, two kilometers from the finish, he attacked us. It's a shame because if we had worked well, we could have made it. I'm still satisfied with my race. This season, I have not won anything. I have three races left. I have not given up. "