Two days after his frustrating relegation at the EuroEyes Cyclassics, Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) got a small revenge when he sprinted to victory on the first stage of the Tour du Poitou Charentes. The Frenchman was the fastest in the expected bunch sprint where he held off the Wanty-Groupe Gobert duo of Roy Jans and Danilo Napolitano to take both the stage victory and the overall lead.

 

We have gathered a few reactions.

 

Nacer Bouhanni: It’s part of my character to always come back

Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) told Directvelo:

 

"This is my fiftieth professional victory. After two weeks without cycling and 30 days on antibiotics following the Championships of France, I'm happy to win again. This first stage was difficult, with great heat, even if we rode tempo all day. It was almost warmer than inQatar. I was always in the top 20 of the bunch from when we entered the circuit.

 

“In the sprint, I told Christophe Laporte that we had to be in first and second position before the last corner. This is what we did. He was able to lead me and I made ​​my effort at 200m to go.

 

I am happy to win here after my relegation in Hamburg which according to me and many others was unjustified. We have seen much worse than that in the sprints. In my head, I won there. Many riders, including foreigners, have told me that I did not deserve that, which made ​​me happy.

 

“So today , I wanted to win but I did not know how I would be, especially as I slept only three hours Sunday night in Germany, due to doping control and a very early morning flight . I did not know how I was recovered, but this victory proves that my condition is increasing. This bodes well for the future. I want to win a maximum of races in the coming weeks.

 

”I take things one after the other, and I do not think about the World Championships in Qatar. I never let go of anything, I have experienced many setbacks in my career. Since my childhood, I have gone through adversity and failures. It's in my temperament to always come back.”

 

Wanty with two riders on the podium on first day in Poitou-Charentes

Wanty sports director Jean-Marc Rossignon was pleased to have Roy Jans and Danilo Napolitano in the top 3.

 

"It is a good start for our team. Our sprinters showed that they are in great shape. We are leading the team classification. Tomorrow we'll have aonther chance but Nacer Bouhanni is outstanding. On Thursday there will be a time trial. We rely on Gaëtan Bille and then the last stage would be very important again for the GC."

 

Tom Van Asbroeck comes up short on first day in Poitou-Charentes

Tom Van Asbroeck finished sixth in the first stage of the Tour du Poitou Charantes. Sep Vanmarcke led out team LottoNL-Jumbo’s sprinter well in the French heat, but home rider Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) took the flowers today.

 

“It was 38 degrees,” Sports Director Frans Maassen said. “The riders drunk and refreshed continuously, but the day took its toll. It’s always a good thing when the sun shines, but this time it did so intensely.

 

“It went quite well for us. We expected a bunch sprint because all the French teams brought along sprinters in their teams. We did our best to lead out Tom Van Asbroeck. Sep Vanmarcke especially played a decisive role.

 

“Tom benefited from Danilo Napolitano’s (Wanty - Groep Gobert) slipstream, but when he erred, Tom lost position.”

 

The race will continue tomorrow and Van Asbroeck, under the guidance of the team in yellow and black, will try again.

 

Yauheni Hutarovich in the mix, Brice Feillu goes down

Fortuneo-Vital Concept has Yauheni hutarovich in ninth:

 

“It was very hot but it does not bother me. We had two leaders for the sprint: Dan [McLay] and me. The circuit was really not easy, it was very winding. I finished ninth. It was a good opportunity today but I will try again for the rest of the race.”

 

Brice Feillu crashed and finished more 10 minutes behind the winner with wrist and back pain.

 

Topsport Vlaanderen with aggressive approach in Poitou-Charentes

Maxime Farazijn (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise) was in the break. He told Directvelo.

 

"The goal was to be in the break. I found myself alone in front just before the bottom of the first GPM. Then I waited for the return of other riders who were chasing. It was very hard all day, with these efforts. It was incredibly hot. And that will be the case in the coming days too. I look forward to a shower and then to my bed. The team will try to put guys in the breakaways every day. We do not have a real leader. We will try to be offensive but it will be difficult to deny the sprinters. "

In-form Gianni Moscon targets top result in Poitou-Charentes

Andy Fenn and Gianni Moscon battled it out in the sprint as day one at the Tour du Poitou-Charentes came down to a bunch kick.

 

On a sweltering day that saw the temperature almost touching 40 degrees Celsius, the Team Sky duo put themselves in the mix on the run into Puilboreau.

 

Finishing narrowly outside the top 10, Fenn led Moscon home, with the latter picking up a prominent stage placing as he looks to continue his momentum off the back of a victorious Arctic Race of Norway.

 

"I'm here for a good result,” Moscon told Directvelo. “The time trial will be a good test. Furthermore, it will definitely be my last time trial of the season. I really want a good time, but there's not just me in the team. Our sprinters Ben Swift and Andrew Fenn also have ambitions. Today they did not sprint because they found the finael a little too dangerous. They did not want to take any risks, especially Ben who already came back from injury. We think about the end of season, it's not just this race.

 

“I'm in great condition, after my final victory at the Artic Race. But I do not really know what goal to have for me in the time trial and the overall. This will be the surprise on D-Day. I will do my best. Anyway, I'm happy to have my chance in the Sky team, despite the large number of leaders that make up this team. "
 

Nelson Oliveira attentive on first day in Poitou-Charentes

Up to 39°C in the shade with a nonexistent wind made the Movistar Team and other riders sufer in the Tour du Poitou-Charentes. The gala event began onTuesday with the first of three probable sprints before the TT of 23 km will decide the on Thursday in the town of Chatellerault.

 

Nacer Bouhanni (COF) took a very clear victory in Puilboreau ahead of  Jans and Napolitano.  Nelson Oliveira (17th) was the top -ranked rider for Movistar, showing his desire to finish in front and so looking for a good position for the time trial after tomorrow. He will be attentive again tomorrow.

 

Søren Kragh Andersen optimistic after first stage un Poitou-Charentes

Søren Kragh Andersen was the best placed rider for Team Giant-Alpecin, contesting the hectic sprint, and all riders came in safely, ready to tackle the testing GC days ahead.

 

Coach Hans Timmermans said after the stage: “It was a very very hot day today. But that is the same for everybody. In the final we did a good job in positioning Soren [Kragh Andersen] in the wheel of the top sprinters, but the last kilometre was crazy.” 

 

Søren Kragh Andersen said: “That was a hot day. The team did a great job in supporting me during the race and also the positioning into the wheel of the sprinters was good, but in the last kilometre it was really crazy. I think I was in the top ten (he was 18th, ed.) , and day by day I will improve with this weather.” 

 

Julien Berard pleased to get his chance in Poitou-Charentes

Julien Bérard (AG2R-La Mondiale) was in the break. He told Directvelo.

 

"The heat is the same for everyone. We still aimed to put someone in the break. I thought it was good for me. It was important for me to be in front. The goal was initially to have fun and get some bonus second. It's nice to be in front, even though we knew it was going to be complicated to stay away with all those sprin teams. But we never know. Being on the podium and answering questions at the finish was not unpleasant. In the AG2R-La Mondiale team, the roles are predefined in the biggest races but in other races, I can try my luck, like here at the Tour du Poitou-Charentes. It's always good for morale. "