Sebastien Turgot was signed by the Ag2r-La Mondiale team to be a leader for the cobbled classics and yesterday he proved that he is ready for his most important races when he finished 3rd in the Cholet Pays de Loire. However, the Frenchman was left disappointed as he felt that he had all the means to take the win.

By finishing 2nd in the 2012 Paris-Roubaix, Sebastien Turgot proved that he has all the skills needed to excel in the toughest cobbled classics. After several years with Europcar, he decided to take on a new challenge for 2013 when he signed with Ag2r-La Mondiale where he is expected to be a leader in his favourite races.

Yesterday he proved that he has timed his condition to perfect when he finished 3rd in Cholet Pays de Loire. With teammate Gediminas Bagdonas, he had made it into the right 22-rider group that went clear right from the beginning of the race and both riders were still there when the group had been whittled down to 9 riders in the end.

Known as a fast finisher, Turgot was one of the favourites to take the win but the Ag2r leader ended up starting his sprint too early. He faded back to 3rd and what left disappointed despite taking his first podium result for his new team.

"When the 40 riders returned to 4 minutes, I was upset because normally a group of 22 riders is never caught back by the peloton when it has an 8-minute lead. So I upped the pace. 

"I had too much confidence in the sprint. I launched it from too far out. At 300 meters, I thought there was only 200m to go. When I saw the 200m sign, I knew it would be impossible to win. He missed thestrength in the end of the sprint. 

"Gediminas Bagdonas has given 100% for me. Unfortunately, I have not paid him pack for his work. This is a big disappointment. I think I was the fastest in the breakaway but I've done things wrong in the finale. I want to thank Gediminas Badgonas. 

"You can't be happy with third. Still, I am. reassured for the next races even if there was no pavé today. Therefore it is not the same effort. I'll do all the classics. I hope to be even more reassured Friday night after the GP E3."

“About twenty riders broke away after only ten kilometers with Sébastien (Turgot) and Gediminas (Bagdonas)," sports director Gilles Mas said. "They have quickly opened a gap and the peloton, slowed down by a big crash, never came back.

"In the final kilometers, we did it pretty well. Bagdo worked a lot for Sébastien who was in a great shape. Seb was certainly able to win today but he made a small error, perhaps because of a lack of lucidity, and he started to sprint too early.

"He still lacks confidence but this result should reassure him some days before the Belgian races where he is expected to be a leader. We noted today that the work he did this winter begins to pay off. Physically he is able to obtain good results.”