Samuel Dumoulin (Ag2r) continued what has been one of the best seasons of his long career by claiming a fantastic win in the mountainous Tour du Doubs. He made it into a 7-rider group on the final climb and after strong support from Domenico Pozzovivo he beat Baptiste Planckaert (Wallonie) and Thibault Ferasse (Armee) in the sprint to take the win and increase his lead in the Coupe de France series.

 

We have gathered a few reactions.

 

Samuel Dumoulin: When a rookie like Latour can win, an oldie like me can do so too

"I have never won so late in the season in my career. I always wanted to perform late in the season, but it never happened. My work, my condition and the teamwork pays off,” Samuel Dumoulin said.

 

“I was not in great condition, but we managed the race well. I managed to put pressure on Baptiste Planckaert (2nd overall in the Coupe de France) and I relied on the team. Even if I was not the strongest, I knew to focus on the sprint and I trusted my team.

 

“The whole team has done an incredible job. In the end, Hubert Dupont did a tremendous job with his usual devotion and the presence of Domenico Pozzovivo in front was a plus. 

 

”I've been thinking about the example of Pierre Latour who was able to win the previous day in the Vuelta and I thought that if a young person is able to do it, an old rider like me should do it too.”

 

"At the start, I wanted to win this race with the support of the team,” he told Directvelo. “It was important to be opportunistic and clever. I wanted to use my good condition. We suspected that the final decision would be made on the Larmont climb, that's why we had even checked it out yesterday.

 

“We had a very hard-fought race. There was a lot of movement. You do not see many races like that. I was not on a great day. I knew how to save myself. I relied on my opponents and my teammates. I did not panic. I put pressure on Planckaert. I got a little scared on Larmont but it worked out. Planckaert launched the sprint at the bend, there was headwind. I managed to pass him.

 

”I take great pleasure this year. I'm lucky to be here. I get five extra points over Planckaert overall in the Coupe de France PMU. This is good, especially as I do not do the GP Isbergues next week because of the European Championships. "

 

Beating Baptiste Planckaert, second in the Tour du Doubs, Samuel Dumoulin increased his lead in the standings of the Coupe de France PMU. He now has a lead of 26 över the Belgian with two rounds remaining. 

 

The win is the fourth for him this season, the 32nd of his career and the eighth of the team in 2016.  

He has re-signed for two seasons with the team AG2R La Mondiale.

 

Samuel Dumoulin will miss the next race, the GP Isbergues on Sunday, because he is selected for the France team for the European Championships in Plumelec with teammate Cyril Gautier. 

 

"It is often not I have the chance to wear the jersey of France at a competition which takes place in France. I want to enjoy it. I want to bring my experience as a road captain as I have been at the Tour de France. And I hope that we will win the race. "

 

Pozzovivo back on form with great ride at Tour du Doubs

Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R La Mondiale) finished seventh. He told Directvelo:

 

"The FDJ team attacked at the bottom of Larmont. Then I increased the pace. But Reichenbach was as good as me. I asked for help but he did not work with me. Then I loked back and saw Samuel (Dumoulin) in a small group. I tried to control the situation. In the descent, I rode for Sam. I had to bring him to 300 meters from the line, and after that it was for him to do it. It was a good race to find the pace, there were attacks all day! I will continue with the Grand Prix de Wallonie and the Italian classics until the Tour of Lombardy. "

 

Planckaerts focuses on overall Europe Tour win after second place at Tour du Doubs

Baptiste Planckaert (Wallonie Bruxelles-Group Protect) was second. He told Directvelo:

 

"I knew that Samuel Dumoulin was in my wheel during the sprint. Now I think that I started from too far out. I was afraid that Dumoulin woul launch first. Finally, he passed me on the line. I'm disappointed, too bad!

 

”I did not expect to be in the final because I was not great all week. We rode hard all day. There was less stress as we were only thirty in the leading group so there was no fight. I was on the limit in the final, but I was able to survive Larmont. But again, I am disappointed! The disappointment comes mostly from the failure to win the race.

 

“Rather than the Coupe de France, I think especially about the classification of the Europe Tour. In this light, it would have been a good thing to win here.”

 

"There are still two races to try to rectify the situation," explains Olivier Kaisen, athletic director, "the GP Isbergues on September 18 and the Tour de Vendée on October 2. However, we can say that second place in a race such as the Tour du Doubs is satisfactory but, in this case, Baptiste has lost precious points in the standings. The team did a perfect job and fulfilled all instructions. The goal was not to let too big a breakaway get away. A group of 7 riders, including Baptiste Planckaert, got away out of the thirty leading riders at the top of the last climb. The sprint just after the last descent was launched by Dumoulin but Baptiste was unable to win.  The next event is the Grand Wallone on Wednesday before a return to the Coupe de France at the GP Isbergues on Sunday.”

 

Armee rider proud to be on the podium behind two champions at Tour du Doubs

Thibault Ferasse (Armee) was third. He told Directvelo:

 

"I'm satisfied with my race. The two objectives were achieved: that of the team as we score many points in the Coupe de France, and personally it makes me happy to be third behind two champions. It was decided by the legs so it's even more satisfying. The Tour du Doubs is always bim-bam-boom from beginning to end. This is the kind of race I love. I was not crazy-crazy at first. Finally, I followed the best. We did the last climb full gas. It was a mental battle because I had bad legs with 100km to go. Then it went better and better, I was having a good day. The team did a good race. I could count on my teammates who were there with me in the break (Julien Duval and Benjamin Thomas). I pushed hard up Larmont. It was hard but I was really good. It's good for the confidence especially as I went through bad times this year. I broke my collarbone in Dunkirk, I had a toxoplasmosis ... I leave with confidence.”

 

Sepulveda gains confidence with great ride at Tour du Doubs

After struggling all day, Eduardo Sepulveda finished with a group of seven riders and took fourth place. The good work of the four Foruneo riders in front riders allowed him to contest the sprint for victor

 

"Today the team did a great job. We worked together all day. Anthony Delapalce set a good tempo so that I could attack. Elie Gesbert and Jonathan Hivery also did a great job. Each time, we responded to attacks. In the end, I was pretty good despite the start of some cramps cramps but in a sprin against Dumoulin and Planckaert, it's complicated to win. I finished 4 th but I'm still happy with my day. I felt good in training last week, it was confirmed in competition. I had started the year well, I want to finish well in Italy. It is important to work calmly during the winter. "

 

Tour de l’Avenir winner tests his form for European Championships at Tour du Doubs

Tour de l’Avenir winner David Gaudu (FDJ) was 25th. He told Directvelo:

 

"I found myself in the break with Sébastien Reichenbach. In the end, it was hard to control, especially along the Saint-Point Lake. Sébastien was cooler than me so I started to work for him on the last climb. I spent much of the race in front. It's been a long time since I last made a raid like this. This course allowed me to refine the shape before the European Championships. The goal will be to hey the star jersey but we'll see what the instructions of the sporting director are.”

 

French youngster nearly in the top 10 at Tour du Doubs

Valentin Madouas (Team France) finished 11th. He told Directvelo.

 

"I came back to the breakaway in a chase group. It was time to go because I knew that the riders who were in front, were going win. Alas, I had to make efforts to get back. In the end, it was a bit special. There were many attacks, we had to try to follow the right move. It was decided by the legs on the Larmont. Seven riders got away and I found myself in a chase group. I did a bullshit sprint. I did not see that the finish was so close. Am I disappointed to miss the Top 10? Not really, it does not make much difference whether you are 10th or 11th. There will be other opportunities. It was a good preparation race for the European Championships.”