After several years as a hard working domestique at the Crelan-Euphony team, Sebastien Delfosse has stepped down to continental level to take on a leadership role at Wallonie-Bruxelles. Yesterday he proved his capabilities when he finished 2nd behind Romain Bardet (Ag2r) in the high-level La Drome Classic, holding of riders like Philippe Gilbert, Gianni Meersman, and Jan Bakelants in the finale.

Things have changed for Sebastien Delfosse for he 2014 season. When his Crelan-Euphony team folded, the strong Belgian was forced to search for a new home if he wanted to continue his career.

He found that home at the continental Wallonie-Bruxelles team where the 31-year-old both works as a mentor for the many young riders on the team and has the leadership role in most of the races. Yesterday he proved that he is able to handle that extra responsibility when he finished 2nd in La Drome Classic.

The hard French one-day race had attracted a star-studded line-up with stars like Philippe Gilbert, Cadel Evans, Samuel Sanchez, Jan Bakelants, Gianni Meersman, and most of the French climbing elite. Delfosse, however, was unfazed and played a prominent role throughout the entire race.

Already from the early stages, Delfosse was part of all key moves and when the early break finally established itself after a very aggressive start, Delfosse was there. When it was whittled down to 6 riders, he survived the selection and later showed strength when the race favourites joined from behind to form a strong 13-rider group in the end.

Inside the final kilometres, Delfosse made it into the decisive group with Romain Bardet, Jan Bakelants, Pierrick Fedrigo, Mikael Cherel, and Riccardo Zoidl and he continued to play it aggressively in the finale. Unfortunately, the successul attack was the one launched by Bardet but Delfosse still had enough left in the tank to take off on his own, narrowly holding off the sprint from Meersman to take 2nd.

"I must admit that my first impression of La Drome Classic is one of disappointment because I knew that I could win," he said. "But the result, 2nd place, is very good and my greatest joy of the day is to be able to return the favour of my teammates who have given everything for me at the Classic du Sud-Ardeche on Saturday and in the Drome Classic on Sunday.

"Sunday's race was fast from the start. We knew that a big group would come out from the start which actually happened with a bunch of 30 riders early in the race. I was able to be there. Then we were 52 in the front.

That move was neutralized and instead Delfosse made it into the day's breakaway.

"Personally, I attacked several times from this moment [when the favourites returned from behind]: once just before we crossed Rhone 24km from the finish, and again at 16km to go. Every time I attacked because I knew I could go to the end. Bardet was the final one to attack. At that point I had already done a lot of work and I thought that Jan Bakelants would follow him. It didn't happen. So I tried to make the junction and I found myself alone behind Bardet with one km to go.

"I finished 2nd in a race that I could have won. But the important thing is that I could finally make a result that corresponds to my form this season. It is the result of a lot of work in training with my team. I only lack the victory but it will come. I feel I have started to adapt to the role of team leader that I have never been used to and I can only applaud the work of my teammates in this French weekend.

"I have had good legs lately," he added to Directvelo. "I was on my own in the finale. It was not clear how I should beat the bigger teams. I am a little disappointed to finish 2nd but at the same time I am also satisfied with the result.

"The team got an invitation and we showed that we deserved our place in this event. This kind of results give confidence to the team. I hope to be able to win one soon. Next week I will do Le Samyn and then the 3 Days of West Flanders."