After some unlucky races lately, Paul Penhoët nearly missed victory this Friday. After quite an eventful race on La Adélie Route de Vitré, the 23-year-old was able to contest the final sprint for victory. However, having started his effort a few meters behind Stian Fredheim, he had to settle for second place at the end of the slight uphill finish in Vitré. He then took his seventh top-10 of the season, also his third podium, and will try again next week in the Pays de la Loire Region Tour.
For the fifth round of the FDJ French Cup, numerous loops were on the table for the riders this Friday around the Breton town of Vitré. In detail, the day’s course consisted of five laps of a twenty-one-kilometre circuit and eight laps of a smaller, nine-kilometre circuit. Also, despite there were no major climbs, the total elevation gain was close to 2,000 meters, due to the repetition of small hills and false flats. It all started in a relatively classic way, with a five-rider breakaway establishing itself, but as soon as they entered the finishing circuit, with approximately seventy kilometres to go, a whole new race began. The early fugitives were caught, the moves started, and Groupama-FDJ joined the action. Clément Davy followed the first accelerations, before Cyril Barthe and Rémi Cavagna joined a clearer attempt. The “TGV de Clermont-Ferrand” even took the lead within a four-man group for nearly a lap. “We wanted to be active from the start of the small circuit, so as not to be one step behind and not have to chase, because it’s a tiring circuit, where it can be difficult to close the gap on a breakaway,” explained Yvon Caër. “Rémi likes this type of racing, but everyone had the opportunity to go for it, and above all, we were never a step behind.”
“I saw great solidarity”, Yvon Caër
Once the French rider was caught, a five-man breakaway formed in the final thirty kilometres. The peloton then remained more or less together, until neutralizing the attempt at the start of the final lap. “If we were heading towards a sprint in the final, we had to make sure Paul was in good position,” Yvon explained. “Once the race was on, I felt really good,” said Paul. “That being said, it’s a race where you can quickly get caught out, which was the case once or twice, even when I was very well placed at the top of the climbs. The goal was to have a strong team around me, which was the case, and the boys were in the moves when I wasn’t. I think that’s the key in this kind of race.” The young man was finally able to start the last climb of the circuit in the leading positions, but he briefly found himself caught behind a split. “Cyril made a crazy effort after the last climb because we had to close the gap right away,” Yvon said. “Paul was almost too much in front on the climb, the attacks came from behind, and he was a bit surprised. He didn’t want to make the effort in the wrong timing, but fortunately, Cyril was there to bring him back. I saw great solidarity, with Maxime who also came back to pull and Cyril to position him. In the end, it was all good for Paul as he hadn’t made a single effort before the sprint.”
“I know I’m in good shape”, Paul Penhoët
After a final turn by Cyril Barthe under the flamme rouge, Paul Penhoët slipped into third place in a very reduced pack on the tricky descent before the final 400-meter false flat. “Coquard left a small gap on the first guy, then he took the last corner a little too fast and his rear wheel slipped,” Paul recounted in detail. “I had to brake a little, and with the false flat finish, it was impossible to regain enough speed.” Already a few lengths behind Stian Fredheim at the beginning of the sprint, the French rider was unable to make up enough ground before the finish line and had to settle for second place. “I would have liked to see Paul in action without this race circumstance,” said Yvon. “Hats off to the winner, who was nonetheless strong, but we have a few regrets about how the sprint unfolded.” “It’s really frustrating because we were up there all day, we were always well represented,” said Paul. “The last few weeks haven’t been easy for the team, but today we showed that we can be in the mix when everyone is motivated. It’s not a win, but it’s still an important thing to take away from this race. A second-place finish is never really positive on a personal level, but I know I’m in good shape. There’s another race next week, and the goal will be to win there, because I really miss it.”
Yvon Caër also gave his feelings about the day, at the end of which Rémi Cavagna also received the most combative rider award. “I saw riders who were motivated and who gave their all throughout the race,” he said. “You obviously hope for more when you finish second, but regarding the state of mind and the energy, it was a successful day. As for Paul, he was able to compete in a normal final, without a crash or a puncture, and we can see what he is capable of in these conditions. We don’t have to put excessive pressure on ourselves. We must continue to work like this, have confidence in him, and we will win races. He should have opportunities during the first two days of the Région Pays de la Loire Tour next week. He needs to recover well, take advantage of his good form and we will do our best to win at least one stage.”
