Samuel Dumoulin (Ag2r) again proved that he is finally back at his best level after a difficult start to the year by taking his second consecutive win in the Coupe de France series at the GP Plumelec. In the iconic uphill sprint on the Cote de Cadoudal, he came out on top by holding off his teammate Alexis Vuillermoz who made it a 1-2 for Ag2r. Arthur Vichot (FDJ) was the best of the rest in third.

We have gathered a few reactions.

Samuel Dumoulin: I had already told Vuillermoz that we would make a 1-2

"It’s one of the most beautiful days of my career in a one-day race,” Samuel Dumoulin said. “The team was very strong and the tactics worked perfectly. The day before I told Alexis that we would finish first and second and we did it. I didn’t expect we would succeed after such an amazing race of the whole team. 
 

“I began the season slowly. I was sick. But since mid-April, everything has gone perfectly. The team atmosphere is joyful. By the the way, I love my job.”

"Just before the start, I looked at the road book and saw that Thomas Voeckler (Direct Energie) and Julien Simon (Cofidis) had won twice,” he told L’Equipe. “I told myself that I could do so as well. It is really a race for which I have a special fondness. Also, to see Alexis (Vuillermoz) finish second is doubly significant. 

“I really had exceptional sensations throughout the day. I haven’t felt so well for a long time. The AG2R-La Mondiale team did a perfect race and I felt that the victory could not elude us. Besides, I had told Alexis before the race that we would do a 1-2 without knowing who would be the first. I felt good and I really wanted to make this victory a reality. 

“I'm in a good momentum, I am now only eleven points behind Planckaert in the classification of the Coupe de France. Why not consider to win this challenge? I will continue with the Boucles de l’Aulne in Châteaulin on Sunday and although it is not a course that suits me especially well, I hope that with the motivation right now, things will be in my advantage. With the experience I have, I have to take advantage of opportunities when I have the wind in my back.”

"This is a great win for the team,” he told Directvelo. “There is a great atmosphere here. Yesterday Alexis (Vuillermoz) and I joked about who was going to be first and seconds or at least who was to finish ahead of the other. We dominated the race as a team. When you win, it's always a special emotion. At the same time, it's not worth fighting to win if you are bot touched by winning.

“Now the Coupe de France PMU becomes a goal. With the absence of Baptiste Planckaert and my victory today, I move closer to the lead. You should know how to take advantage of favorable moments like this GP Plumelec. Tomorrow I will have another chance to score more points. I will give everything.”

Alexis Vuillermoz: I wanted to give something back to Dumoulin

"I come from a great training camp in Sierra Nevada (Spain) and I know I am in a good condition,” Alexis Vuillermoz said. “This year, I feel good in spite of my crashes in Paris-Nice and Amstel Gold Race.
 

”I won in Plumelec last year and I was ambitious. The team did a perfect collective race. I attacked in the final. Samuel passed me. He was really strong. Last year, he helped me to win… This victory is important for us.”

"I clearly expected to be good today as I have come from a big training camp,” he told Directvelo. “I came out with a lot of strength and freshness, which was good for the GP Plumelec. The team did a great job.

”I gave everything in the finale. I attacked at the bottom of the last climb because I was the last teammate for Samuel (Dumoulin) and I wanted to protect him better. The goal was clearly and simply to see where the others were and make them work. I launched the sprint for Samuel and he won. It's a present after the work he had done for me last year right here when I won. "

Arthur Vichot after third place: I can’t be disappointed.

"When we are so close to the win, we necessarily think about the victory,” Arthur Vichot told Directvelo. “But given the approach to the finish and how Samuel Dumoulin was led out by Alexis (Vuillermoz), I can say I was simply beaten. Under these conditions, I do not have to be disappointed. In addition, it was my comeback race. I had not raced for a month as I have had a break and I have been at a training camp.

“Honestly I did not really have a good feeling today but I managed to pick up a podium in a difficult race. This is a good result. The team had the heart to make an aggressive race since we were up against guys like Samuel Dumoulin and Bryan Coquard. We did not have the best cards in the sprint. On a circuit like this, it's still difficult to make the difference against the peloton, especially as all teams do not necessarily want to play the offensive card. We are not ashamed of our race.

”Tomorrow we'll probably have an even more offensive strategy. We were ​​3rd and 4th in Plumelec so it would not hurt to do a little better at the Boucles de l’Aulne.”  

FDJ neo-pro on the attack at the GP de Plumelec

Jérémy Maison (FDJ) was in the break

"There were a lot of spectators, it was fun,” he told Directvlo. ”I had a lot of fun on these Breton roads. In the team, we tried to make the race. That's why I took off in pursuit togeth with Cedric (Pineau). Unfortunately, very few teams wanted to join us or try to open the race to avoid a sprint finish, and a likely victory for Samuel Dumoulin. He rode very well today and his entire team was very strong.

“For our part, we tried to do what we could. We lacked a little something to win. I did ​​great races early in the season.

“Inevitably, when you have just started in the pros ranks against much more experienced riders, it is trickier. The workloads are also bigger. I ride about ten more hours per week, compared to last year. I have to do it. And above all, I need racing days. Moreover, I will soon compete in the Tour of Switzerland.”