Second behind Romain Bardet, Europcar team leader Pierre Rolland said the fact that a Frenchman won made up for his disappointment.

"It's more than disappointing, but that's sport. Honestly I wanted to use the fact that Romain was in front to let the others work by saying it was my friend in the lead. Even if we don't wear the same outfit, I tried to make the best of it.

"In the "Lacets", we took our responsibilities with Cyril Gautier. I don't have words to describe what he did for me. Cyril was exceptional. And then I gave it my all.

"In the Glandon, there was a little incident. Fuglsang was hit by a motorbike. That's the moment Romain chose to attack. I decided to let him go. I was wrong.

"Second is not first. But I prefer this finish than the one in Mende, when Romain and Thibaut were second and third. I'm glad it was him who won, but I would have liked it better to be me."