Former U23 Liege-Bastogne-Liege champion Anthony Turgis (Cofidis) confirmed his big potential when he secured the overall victory in the Boucles de la Mayenne when he finished 7th in the bunch sprint on the final stage.

"Today, the goal was to limit the damage," he told Directvelo. "At all costs, we had to avoid too many escapees from getting clear. We tried to control the early part of the stage. Very often the race came back together. There was a big fight for an hour and a half, then a group of 10 riders managed to get clear. Topsport Vlaanderen The helped us to bring them back. Finally, four riders managed to take off. At that time we could breathe which was good for us.

"Early in the race I did not think about the final victory. Nevertheless, I was arrived with ambitions. I wanted to get a result and after the prologue, I found myself in a good position overall. From there, I had to try to be one step ahead an improve my position.

"This is what I managed to do yesterday. It allowed me to take the yellow jersey. I had a great team with lots of experience around me and that made it easier. Alone, I would not have done anything.

"Now I'm going to wear the jersey of the French team at the European Games in Baku. Then I will do the Championships of France in Chantonnay in Vendée and then I will take some rest. I have not eased off since the beginning of the year. Then I will have a quite heavy second part of season."