Bryan Coquard (Direct Energie) confirmed the excellent form he has shown recently by claiming a dominant victory in the Boucles de la Mayenne prologue. The Frenchman covered the technical 4.5km course in Laval in 5.45 which was a massive five seconds faster than last year’s prologue winner Johan Le Bon (FDJ) an 10 seconds faster than his teammate Thomas Boudat.

We have gathered a few reactions.

Bryan Coquard: For a few days I have thought I could win this prologue

"A prologue like this is a difficult effort,” Bryan Coquard told Directvelo. “It was tough all the way to the end. I have thought about this race for a few days. I thought I had the ability to win. In the team, we worked well. We finished 1st, 3rd (Thomas Boudat) and 5th (Adrien Petit). The goal of the team was to win a stage at the Boucles de la Mayenne and it's done. Now we will first of all try to help each other. Our collective performance shows that we are ready to defend the jersey in the next stages."

Disappointment for Johan Le Bon in Boucles de la Mayenne prologue

Last year's winner Johan Le Bon took second place at 5 seconds.

"It's a bit annoying," said FDJ manager Marc Madiot, "when you are in the mix but do not win. Third in Plumelec, second in Châteaulin, second here ... Johan is disappointed and this is normal but at the same time he finished three seconds slower than the time he set last year and that would not have been enough because tonight Coquard beat him by 5 seconds."

Marc Sarreau (10th) who seems to have recovered well from the Giro, and Yoann Offredo (18th) performed well. This bodes well before the first stage in Craon.

"We will go to Renaze where there are some climbs," said Madiot. "There will be three intermediate sprints.The first in Ballots will be a tribute to Jacky Durand, the second in Renazé is in my honor, and the third, three kilometers away, is in La Boissiere is a tribute to my brother Yvon. This is a very important day! "