In Cholet, it was in a pocket handkerchief that the French men’s cycling championship was played out this Sunday afternoon. Florian Sénéchal beat Anthony Turgis by nothing, in a small committee sprint, to claim his first national title. The best victory of his career for the one who had won a stage victory in the Vuelta last year. Visibly moved, the Northerner rejoiced at the microphone, shortly after crossing the line, that “the wheel is finally turning” after “a pretty tough year”marked by several crashes, notably in Paris-Roubaix, his favorite race. “It’s nice for all the sacrifices I make, for all the time spent away from my family”said Florian Sénéchal again, before going up on the podium to put on the blue white red jersey.
To win, the 28-year-old runner managed to thwart the scenario of a relatively flat circuit race that was said to be promised to Arnaud Démare, currently the best French sprinter. “We thought it was (for) Arnaud in the sprint, but the race was tough, I saw that he was not so good on the climb and that we had to attack”, unfolds Sénéchal. It was by taking advantage of one of the rare difficulties of the course that the rider took off in the company of Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis), before this tandem was joined by three other riders a few kilometers from the line. It remained to settle this small group in the sprint.
Not sure of being at the start of the Tour
Here he is adorned with a tricolor jersey that he will wear for a year, even if it is not yet known whether the Northerner will start the Tour de France next Friday. For the time being, his Quick-Step team has not yet communicated his final team but he did not seem to be included in the preferential plans of the Belgian formation. which can in any case be pleased to keep the distinctive outfit of champion of France within it, since Florian Sénéchal succeeds his teammate Rémi Cavagna, titled last year. “We exchange the jersey it seems”, smiles Florian Sénéchal. Another reason for satisfaction for the Quick-Step team: the good recovery of Julian Alaphilippe. For his return to racing this Sunday, two months after a violent fall in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the world champion completed the 240 km in the peloton, even showing himself to be rather comfortable in the most nervous passages of the race. .
Saturday, on the same circuit of Cholet, it was Audrey Cordon-Ragot who won in the women’s category. She is used to the tricolor overcoat, since she had already won the title on the road in 2020 and, above all, was crowned six times in the time trial, no later than Thursday for her last coronation. A very good omen before the Tour de France Women, which will start on July 24, in a new format after more than twenty years of absence. “I realized after the line that I was going to start the first professional women’s Tour de France with the tricolor jersey, confided the 32-year-old runner at a press conference. It’s the biggest dream of my career since I know the Tour is coming back. I will be applauded by the whole of France on the side of the roads with this tricolor jersey on my shoulders. It is extremely moving for me.” The puncher from the Trek-Segafredo team will be aiming for a stage victory, adorned with her distinctive jersey.