Tony Gallopin (Lotto-Soudal) finished 2nd in the French road race championships after he was beaten by Steven Tronet in the uohill sprint.

"I did not want to play my card too early," he told Directvelo. "Cofidis was very strong. They still had several riders in the final to help Nacer Bouhanni. I wanted to anticipate the sprint at the flamme rouge but Romain Bardet had the same idea. I had to counter his attempt. I could not wait for the sprint with Nacer Bouhanni stille there. I could not win, that's how it is. It didn't work today. The objective was to win, I did not manage to do so. So inevitable the feeling of disappointment prevails. I hope there will be other opportunities to win the tricolor jersey.
 
"I was the only rider from my team but it would not have changed anything if I had had teammates. In the end, we were all more or less alone. Steven (Tronet) was very strong. It was not the fact that I was alone that denied me the win.

"I'm happy for Steven and the Auber 93 team. I know the team as I was there before I turned professional in 2008, and my uncle (Guy Gallopin, ed) is still a sportd director there. Stéphane Javalet had done much to cycling. Auber 93 brought me a lot. I am delighted to see that it worked for them today.

"Everything is good. It was a good test after the Critérium du Dauphiné. I reassured myself in view of the Tour de France. I had a great Tour last year with a stage victory and the yellow jersey. I go back to win a stage and then there will be a job for André Greipel."