After two frustrating sprints, Arnaud Demare (FDJ) ended the Route du Sud on a high as he emerged as the fastest in the bunch sprint on the final day of the race. After a great lead-out from Yoann Offredo and Mickael Delage, he held off Yohann Gene (Direct Energie) and Stephane Poulhies (Armee) in the final dash to the line. Nairo Quintana and Marc Soler finished safely to make it a 1-2 for Movistar in the GC while a crash cost Hugh Carthy (Caja Rural) the third place which was taken by Nicolas Edet (Cofidis).

We have gathered a few reactions.

Nairo Quintana: I have confirmed that I am in good form

Nairo Quintana won his first Route du Sud overall in 2012 at the age of 22, when he was ‘only’ one of cycling’s best young talents. Four years later, the Movistar Team leader took the final ‘corail’ jersey in the Pyrenees again after a fantastic season: five stage race podiums out of five appearances, three wins including the WorldTour races in Catalunya and Romandie, and excellent legs from what is arguably one of the biggest candidates to win the Tour de France in five weeks’ time.

The work from the whole Movistar Team to take care of the Colombian in the 155km stage five - eight laps of a circuit in the Astarac countryside, in and around the village of Clermont-Pouyguillès, with as many climbs of the Côte de Moncassin (Cat-3) - was flawless thanks to the experience from Erviti, Sutherland, Herrada, Dayer Quintana and Rojas. It was Rojas’ task to try a late move, once the day’s breakaway was caught, in pursuit of Julien Loubet (FVC) and Vaugrenard (FDJ); unfortunately, his move wouldn’t stick and was caught by the sprinters with two kilometers to go. Arnaud Démare (FDJ) prevalied across the line, with Rojas in 7th spot.

Sunday’s success in France marks Quintana’s 29th triumph in the pro scene - twenty-six within the ranks of Eusebio Unzué’s squad, which takes him to fourth in the team’s historical rankings, joint with ‘Chava’ Jiménez and Laguía - and the 26th victory for the Movistar Team in 2016, rounding off its final stage race before the ‘Grande Boucle’ with second overall, and best Young rider, for Marc Soler. A beautiful way to set things straight before the #SueñoAmarillo comes at stake next month.

Nairo Quintana said:

“It’s a very important victory. I was coming into this event following long weeks of training in altitude at home in Colombia, and I could confirm I’m in good form. The legs have been as usual for me in the mountains and it seems obvious that I’ve improved quite a bit in time trial. On Friday, I rode the 2016 Canyon Speedmax TT bike for the first time - it’s really great, and this technological progress makes your efforts worthwhile.

“The team did really well: great job from them from the beginning to the end of the race, crowning it today after a mountain stage where they rode fantastically, including Marc’s win. Both victories in the race - this overall win I confirmed today and my first success in 2012 - have been really significant in my sporting career and for my preparations for the Tour. Reaching the ‘Grande Boucle’ this way feels really good.”

"I really had a good feeling during these four days. This is what I came for after a break of several weeks,” he told L’Equipe. “My shape is like that of last year but what makes the difference is my experience. I also have the chance to be surrounded by a great team, with a very high level, which prevents me from worrying about the race.”

" I'm happy because I was second last year. This year, I worked at altitude at home in Colombia and I feel that I can be stronger. I hope it will be good for the Tour.”

Arnaud Demare: This bodes well for the French Championships

"The team rode perfectly all day,” Arnaud Demare told L’Equipe. “We controlled the break and it's a great reward as we worked well without being able to win this week. After a tiring day in the mountains, it's very satisfying to finally win. We were able to catch the break and that's never easy when guys like Sylvain Chavanel (Direct Energie) and Guillaume Levarlet (Auber 93) are ahead. In the final, Benoît Vaugrenard did an excellent job by slipping in a final attempt to allow our team not to get caught out. After the Giro, I only maintained the form but now I feel that I ride well and this bodes well before the Championships of France.

"We knew there were strong riders in the break so we knew how to manage it well. We have reduced the gap in order to avoid too many attacks, so it was almost all about the final climb. There Vaugreanrd controlled it well, doing a valuable job control by managing to follow. I had also told him to try to gamble, but Rojas was there and he did not want to risk it. In the final we were three, with Mickael [Delage] and Yoann [Offredo]. For us it was a perfect situation.

"I'm happy to win. We end the week well. The routes were difficult, today too. We chased for the entire second half of the stage and then on the last climb, Benoît Vaugrenard followed the attack of Rojas. I was in the wheel of Mickaël Delage and it was ideal. Yohan Gene launched the sprint but I knew there was still 150m to go and I felt good.”

Yohann Gene takes over from Bryan Coquard at the Route du Sud

Yohann Gene (Direct Energie) finished second.

"It was a pretty tough sprint with the climb,” he told Directvelo. “There was a lot of fighting in the finale. I knew I had to be well placed with 300m to go. I wanted to anticipate before Arnaud (Démare) launched his sprint but he was a bit faster than me. It's a pity that Bryan (Coquard) gave up yesterday because of the cold. I think he could have won today. I had to take the responsibility to do the sprint and it was not bad."

Sylvain Chavanel: It was impossible

Sylvain Chavanel (Direct Energie) was in the break.

"We tried but it was impossible,” he told Directvelo. We tried to ride away but Movistar controlled behind. I have no regrets. Movistar controlled and then FDJ and Armee chased. Yohan Gene had to sprint and he came close.”
 

Hugh Carthy loses Route du Sud podium due to crash in final stage

After a great performance on yesterday’s queen stage of the race, Hugh Carthy seemed sure to make the overall podium in this year’s Route du Sud. However, a late crash on the final kilometers of the last stage ruined the young Brit’s chances of success.

On an undulating course, the Caja Rural - Seguros RGA riders constantly kept Carthy safe in the peloton near the front. Unfortunately, as the pack started on the final climb, a rider caused Carthy to crash, which lost him nearly eight minutes to the stage winner Arnaud Démare (FDJ) who won the bunch sprint. Jonathan Lastra took 12th place as the team’s best rider on the stage.

Due to his crash, Carthy not only lost the overall podium but also a Top10 result. Instead, Sergio Pardilla finished as the best Caja Rural - Seguros RGA rider in 5th place overall, while Ricardo Vilela was 6th, improving his 8th place from last year. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) took the overall win.

Hugh Carthy said:

“It was a fairly calm stage. On the last couple of laps, there was a bit of a fight for positions but nothing too dramatic. My teammates put me in a good position before the final climb but as we started climbing, a rider from Direct Energie dragged me by my saddle, which caused me to collide with another rider and crash. I didn’t suffer any serious injuries, I’m only battered, bruised and disappointed.

”However, overall, the race went very well for the team. We showed ourselves at the head of the race every day, racing respectfully and aggressively. It’s a shame it had to end like this today but that’s cycling. You have to take the good with the bad. Now, I’ll have a break for a week and then I’ll start to train again, focusing on the second part of the season.”

Stölting in the top 10 on final day at Route du Sud

On the first two stages of the Route du Sud (2.1), Alexander Kamp narrowly missed the top-10 in the sprint. On today’s final stage held on a challenging circuit he sprinted to a 9th place.

The escapees were finally caught early on the final lap, and the sprinters’ trains got into position. Alexander Kamp was brought to the front by his teammates ahead of the Côte de Moncassin. Several riders jumped from the peloton on the climb, the high pace leading to another selection. Kamp was very attentive and always near the front of the group, but eventually everything came back together.

Kamp lost a couple of positions on the final kilometre, but his sprint was a good one – in the end, he took 9th place behind stage winner Arnaud Démare (FDJ).

The next week will be defined by the national championships. The German U23 championships were held today already in Berlin; Lennard Kämna was in a strong break for a long time before eventually being caught on the finishing circuit. The time trial championships will kick off on Thursday and Friday, with the road championships following on Sunday. The Stölting riders will compete for the coveted champion’s jerseys in Germany, Denmark, Luxembourg and France.