After a few frustrating months, Juan Jose Lobato (Movistar) proved that he is back on track by taking his second win of the year in the final stage of the Circuit Cycliste Sarthe. The Spaniard beat the Italian duo of Marco Benfatto (Androni) and Matteo Pelucchi (IAM) in a bunch sprint while Marc Fournier (FDJ) finished safely in the bunch to become a surprise winner of the race. Jerome Coppel (IAM) was second while Lobato scored enough bonus seconds to move into third.

 

We have gathered a few reactions.

 

Marc Fournier: This is a crazy experience

And four teammates and he let themselves slip back and crossed the final finish line of the Circuit de la Sarthe together, Fournier won his first stage race, joining in the history of the FDJ team Swede Thomas Lövkvist who also won the Circuit Sarthe in his first professional year in 2014.

 

"This is a crazy experience," Fournier told Cyclingnews. "Riders with ten years as a pro like Benoît Vaugrenard and Sébastien Chavanel helping me win my first stage race, it's enormous. They've raced with their heart for me. It's something big!"

 

Benoît Vaugrenard and his teammate controlled the stage firmly

 

"Everything happened as we wanted ," sports director said Thierry Bricaud. "In fact, Sebastien Chavanel and Benoît Vaugrenard both chased and left Laurent Pichon and Kevin Reza with Marc Fournier. My old veterans have done a good job."

 

"It is also a collective success. The guys have not asked questions even if Marc is neo-pro and showed a great state of mind. Marc Fournier still surprised by what he did since day one and never panicking. Let him grow, he is only 21. I am unable to tell which kind of ride he will  become because we do not know his potential. He will continue to learn but he is already good. In that way I would say he has everything to become a very good rouleur-puncheur. With all his bad luck, he had only finished one race since the season started but already at Paris-Camembert, he showed beautiful things and his teammates saw the progress. To do what he did, there is no secret, it's a good one! " 

 

Marc Fournier will now compete in the Grand Prix de Denain and the Tro Bro Léon but he can already see that his status has changed.

 

Juan Jose Lobato: Now I am back on track

A sore knee prevented him from reaching the end of Paris-Nice and reach his main early season goals in good form - Milano-SanRemo and the first cobbled classics included - yet Juanjo Lobato (Movistar Team) happily bounced back from misfortune and bested many strong sprinters in Arnage, near the famous Le Mans circuit, to claim the win on the final stage of the 64th Circuit de la Sarthe on Friday.

 

The French race, where the Movistar Team have claimed victories in three of their four most recent appearances, smiled again to the squad directed by Chente García Acosta, so far fourth and fifth in respective sprint finishes by Lobato and sixth overall with a notable Javi Moreno heading into the final stage. In the closing seven laps, and helped out by an excellent Arcas, Quintana, Betancur and Pedrero, Lobato crossed the finish a bike length ahead of Benfatto (AND) and Pelucchi (IAM). It's the second victory of the 2016 season for Lobato, already successful in the Dubai Tour's Hatta Dam stage three in February, and the seventh for the Blues so far this year.

 

Today's success also means that Lobato climbs into third overall, behind youngster Marc Fournier (FDJ) -who profited from a long break on stage one - and Jerome Coppel Another win to celebrate in the name of a man who brought some good memories in this very race back in 2015: Adriano Malori.

 

"I'm finally getting to the place I wanted to be at,” Lobato said. “This victory is a huge boost of confidence for me, something that allows me to take some fury out and tackle my goals with less pressure. Having six riders per team made it extremely difficult to control the race - that's why breaks succeeded both on stage one and yesterday, both days where I did well. We relied on my chances today from the very beginning, putting Dayer at the front to push and keep the break on a leash. The rest of the team supported me really well until the final circuit.

 

"I kept my mind cold into the sprint, I knew I wouldn't win if I was too anxious. I didn't really get into the fight for a position until the Roompot guys moved to the front as a whole with 1.5km to go. In the final turn with 600m remaining I was  already in third place - I could really measure my forces today and launch the sprint comfortably.

 

"Milan-San Remo was my big goal of the first part of the season. But I had a pain in my knee that prevented me from contesting it as I wanted. Milan-San Remo is my favorite race so my morale was a bit down after that but this win here puts me back on track.

 

“It was a nervous sprint with no team clearly leading the pack. I didn't know where to position myself with 3km to go but with 1km to go, the team Roompot made a train and I followed their move, which was the way to win.

 

"Those problems with my knee from two, three weeks ago - which made me not to finish Paris-Nice - did hurt me as I couldn't focus on my goals, but I'm feeling strong again and willing to go for the next competitions. After Roubaix I'm expected to ride two of the Ardennes classics: Amstel Gold Race and Flèche Wallonne. I haven't put any goals on myself for them, I just want to know the courses. After that, I should be doing the Vuelta a Madrid or rather taking some rest before the summer."

 

Frustrating second place for Jerome Coppel in Sarthe

“The team showed itself well throughout the week.  We were always there in the mix of the action, but we just missed out on any victories,” Jérôme Coppel explained. 

 

A prime example of this is evident in the fact that the Frenchman missed out on the victory in the individual time trial by only 35 hundredths of a second.   

 

“The defeat in the time trial was hard to accept, but that’s sport.  And I can believe that second place in the time trial and second place in the overall is pretty good, even if the victory was so close.  We tried everything, but in the end it was not quite enough.  Marc Fournier, who surprised us by winning the first stage by over two minutes, and his team had more luck than we did this time.”

 

Matteo Pelucchi confident after two near-misses in Sarthe

Matteo Pelucchi took second place on Wednesday morning and third place in today’s final stage, grabbing two podiums for the race. 

 

“I’d like to thank the whole team.  They have helped me a lot in my sprints.  Unfortunately, I could not repay them with a victory,” Pelucchi explained. 

 

The Italian was lucky, though.  After crashing in the first stage, he underwent some medical check-ups at the hospital; he was luckily able to continue on the second stage. 

 

“I was fortunate, and I feel good.  I am in good shape, and am looking forward to the next race.”

 

IAM with numerous podium places but no win Sarthe 

6 – that’s the total number of podium places IAM racked up at the Circuit Cycliste Sarthe over the week.  IAM Cycling riders were on the podium in the stages five times, and then Jérôme Coppel’s second place in the overall garnered yet another place.  Breaking it down, Pelucchi took two podiums, Holst Enger sprinted to a podium position of his own, and then in the time trial, Coppel and Brändle each missed out on the victory by the slimmest of margins, taking second and third, respectively, on the stage.

 

Rik Verbrugghe, sporting manager for IAM Cycling, worked alongside Lionel Marie as a directeur sportif for the team at the Circuit Cycliste Sarthe.  At the end of the final stage, the Belgian Verbrugghe made his assessment of the race:

 

“At this race, luck just wasn’t on our side,” Verbrugghe believed.  “Our goal was to win a stage, and if possible take the overall victory as well.  And although we were close to it every day, we never managed to achieve either of our goals.  A place on the second step of the podium for Jérôme Coppel is a great result, but that doesn’t erase the fact there were no victories.  We were very close several times.  And on the second to last stage, we did everything we could to close the gap to the overall leader, Marc Fournier (FDJ).  But there also we had no luck.  After putting in his attack, Mathias Frank had a flat and had to chase back up to the group of favorites again.  But that ride and his 7th place in the overall do prove that he is in good shape.”

 

Impressive Anton Vorobyev leaves Sarthe with two wins and two jerseys

After winning two stages in as many days, Anton Vorobyev had earned the right to relax for the final stage in the 64th Circuit Cycliste Sarthe on Friday. But the Team KATUSHA rider could not hide his good legs and went in the break yet again and secured wins in both the green mountains and pink points jerseys for the final classification.

 

”I am really happy with my performance here in the Circuit Sarthe. It was good to know I am on the right way. Before the start I knew I could get something more in this race, so that was the reason I went in a breakaway once again. Of course I had two hard days, but it was a real chance to win the mountains and points jersey. The peloton never gave us too much space, but it was enough for me to win few mountain finishes and intermediate sprints. I am happy to get these jerseys. Now, I want to prepare for my next race - Tour de Romandie,” said Anton Vorobyev.

 

Team KATUSHA leader Tiago Machado finished 8th Overall.

 

Several near-misses for Roompot in Circuit Cycliste Sarthe

A handful of places of honor but no the stage victory: the outcome of Circuit Cycliste Sarthe - Pays de la Loire leaves Roompot sports director Michel Cornelisse with mixed feelings. 

 

"Raymond Kreder was very close twice," said the team leader. "And in the stages that suited Maurits Lammertink, more was possible.

 

Lammertink opened the four-day with a 6th place, while Huub Duijn (9th) was also among the best on stage 1.

 

One day later Raymond Kreder sprinted for the win in the short morning stage. Bryan Coquard was slightly faster than the Dutchman who finished third. Lammertink was again in the top 10 in stage 3 (9th).  Marc de Maar had to stop the fight in this stage after several technical mishaps.

 

There was misfortune for Nick van der Lijke. He could not start the final stage due to illness. With a 4th place, Raymond Kreder achieved his seventh top five result this season. In the overall standings Lammertink (11th) finished just outside the top ten and Huub Duijn was 20th.