Samuel Dumoulin (Ag2r) out an illness-marred start to the season behind him by claiming his first season victory at La Roue Tourangelle. Having attacked with 15km to go, he joined forces with Olivier Pardini (Wallonie) and Julien Duval (Armee) and after the trio had managed to keep the peloton at bay, the Frenchman beat his rivals in the 3-rider sprint. Baptiste Planckaert (Wallonie) was fifth and retained the Coupe de France lead.

We have gathered some reactions.

Samuel Dumoulin: Hopefully this is the start of a successful spiral

"This victory makes me happy personally but also for the team. This season we have sometimes lacked aggressiveness. This morning, at the briefing, I told the guys that we had to be" sharks "and the goal was to aim high and win. The group did ​​a great race, with Quentin (Jauregui) who spent the day on the attack and fought,” Dumoulin said.

“I attacked when I had not really planned to do so. Then I did not ask myself any questions. We ended up with three in front. Julien Duval worked well. He did not let go. In the sprint, I had nothing planned.  I started late because with the hard efforts, I did not really have the means to do it in a different way.

“I hope this victory will launch the spiral of wins because we have been present from the beginning of the season. Personally I am in shape and I'm glad becauseI ride my bike to win.”

"Today it went well, these are days you you have to enjoy,” he told Directvelo. “I had at heart to prove to my young teammates that I always attack because I think it's something that is sometimes lacking. I expected a sprint finish, as in 70% of the races. But I had an opportunity and I did not ask myself any questions, I attacked.

“For two seasons, I have progressed in my ability to ride on the flats. Before I had a good punch but I struggled to keep on when there were long stretches between the climbs. I was riding a blac. I have not really had time to gamble in the sprint. I delayed my effort for to surprise Pardini as much as possible and it

Worked.

“Tomorrow I leave for the Tour de Romandie with a long trip. I will try to enjoy my good feeling to do something in the sprints. Then it will be the Four Days of Dunkirk where I will try to lift my arms. "

Olivier Pardini after near-miss in France: Dumoulin was not the ideal partner

”I took off behind Samuel Dumoulin and the Caja Rural rider (Antonio Molina),”Olivier Pardini told Directvelo. “After a good effort, I joined them. On the descent, Julien Duval returned. We were three.

”After the Cote de l’Epan, I asked the team car I could work. There was not too much difference, and Samuel Dumoulin was not the ideal companion for a sprint finish. I just worked until the start of the final circuit. I did not manage to win and second place is a shame. I'm disappointed. I waited too long to launch my sprint.

"The race was quite clear. Quentin Jauregui went alone and he was joined by three riders to form a quartet of the early break. The gap was maintained around a minute. In our ranks, Olivier Chevalier attacked from the pack to try to reach the escapees and finally it was Ludwig De Winter who managed to catch them as part of a trio. Dumoulin launched an attack with Antonio Molina after the catch of the breakaway some 12 kilometers from the finish. I took off in pursuit. Julien Duval returned from the back and we ended up forming a trio with Dumoulin. The gap with the peloton remained between 10 and 15 seconds until the end. 

“In the final, unfortunately I waited too long for the sprint. Samuel Dumoulin launched at 150 meters and I went in a second time to try to get back to his front wheel. I regret thesprint because I could have won by being more proactive. But, anyway, I would have signed for a podium in Tourangelle before the start. I'm happy with the result, but have some regrets for not winning this 1.1 race as it was possible. 

“The balance for Wallonie-Bruxelles - Group is excellent with my 2ns place and the 5th place of Baptiste Planckaert who remains leader of the Coupe de France and consolidates his leadership of the UCI Europe Tour. I think this is the reward for our work. We have managed the race well and controlled it without too much pressure.”

Baptiste Planckaert defends Coupe de France lead with fifth place in Roue Tourangelle

"It was a strange race,” Baptiste Planckaert told Directvelo. “The breakaway was never far ahead and after 100 kilometers the peloton was only 20 seconds behind. I had to be very careful, the situation was a little different than usual. The goal was to have someone in the front today. That was the case in the final with Olivier (Pardini) who did the job. Second and fifth is not bad for the team. I had the legs to do something but I was asked to focus on the sprint. We came across a Samuel Dumoulin who was very strong. We do not have to regret anything. The balance of the day remains positive. "

Aggressive Caja Rural performance at La Roue Tourangelle

In the French one-day race, La Roue Tourangelle, Eduard Prades finished as best Caja Rural - Seguros RGA rider in 11th place as Samuel Dumoulin (AG2R La Mondiale) took the win.

Sports director Josemi Fernández said: “The team was very active throughout the entire race with Hugh Carthy and Antonio Molina joining the breakaways. Unfortunately, at the end, three riders got away and we didn’t have anybody there. In the sprint, we worked for Prades and he did well to finish 11th in the race”.

Former pro rider shows himself at La Roue Tourangelle

Clément Koretzky (Team Vorarlberg) was in the break

"Basically it was not at all expected for me to be in front,” he told Directvelo. “I had to play my card in the finale. But as there were a lot of attacks and I was always positioned at the front of the peloton, it was like that. I moved, turned around and saw that we were three and then four. Unfortunately I did not have my best feelings today. I still had fun riding in front. I did well. It didn’t work so maybe I'll have to be careful to ride smarter in the next races and be a little more patient.”