CyclingQuotes.com uses cookies for statistics and targeting ads. This information is shared with third parties.
ACCEPT COOKIES » MORE INFO »

Every day we bring you more pro-cycling news

"I was not bluffing. I had not yet found my best feelings. Yesterday I did a bad time trial and I was missing my marks."

Photo: Sirotti

CRITÉRIUM INTERNATIONAL

RACE PROFILE
|
NEWS

DECATHLON AG2R LA MONDIALE

TEAM PROFILE
|
NEWS

JEAN-CHRISTOPHE PÉRAUD

RIDER PROFILE
|
NEWS
30.03.2015 @ 01:40 Posted by Emil Axelgaard

Jean-Christophe Peraud (Ag2r) proved that he is back to his best after a slow start to the year when he defended his title at the Criterium International by winning the queen stage. After Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) had tried an attack, the veteran accelerated 7km from the top of the Col de l’Ospedale and delivered an incredible solo effort to win the stage and win the race overall for the second year in a row.

 

Due to injuries and various commitments, Jean-Christophe Peraud has had a slow start to the year and he has been far from the level that saw him finish as runner-up in last year’s Tour de France. Already before making his season debut at the Ruta del Sol, the Frenchman made it clear that he would probably not be back to his best before the Vuelta al Pais Vasco in early April.

 

However, Peraud showed steady improvement in Paris-Nice and so he went into the Criterium International with a small hope that he would be able to defend his title. However, he faced formidable opposition from an in-form Thibaut Pinot who had done nothing to hide his ambition in the two-day race.

 

Nothing suggested that Peraud would be able to beat the FDJ leader after he had been firmly beaten in yesterday’s time trial where Pinot had finished an excellent fourth. However, the veteran bounced back with a great win in today’s queen stage and his performance was enough to defend the title he took one year ago.

 

"We were able to follow the tactical plan," he said. "At first I mainly planned to help Alexis [Vuillermoz]. But everything worked well. I counterattacked Thibaut Pinot and I find myself in a solo effort. This win feels good. It is important for the morale after a difficult week and a Paris-Nice below my ambitions that ended with my withdrawal.

 

"I was not bluffing. I had not yet found my best feelings. Yesterday I did a bad time trial and I was missing my marks. Usually when I start the season in January at the Tour de San Luis, I am able to be in front as early as February. I will now be able to work calmly for the future.

 

"My next goal is the Tour of the Basque Country. I'm not going to beat everyone, but it's a race that I like and where I can have some ambitions."

MORE NEWS:

VIEW SELECTED

Bycykling 101: Navigering i byens gader og cykelvenlige... 27.11.2023 @ 12:11The Best Danish Cyclist To Bet On At 2022 Tour De France 13.01.2022 @ 15:262022 Upcoming Tournament Overview 03.01.2022 @ 09:45Best Place to Find Stand-Up Paddleboards 16.06.2021 @ 08:16What are Primoz Roglic’s Chances to Win 2021 Tour de Fr... 17.03.2021 @ 08:37Amazing victory by young champion Sarah Gigante 04.02.2021 @ 14:21Three reasons why cycling is one of the best ways to ex... 28.09.2020 @ 12:03Why do businesses use meeting room managers? 14.09.2020 @ 13:42Five things that you can do, if you want to gain more f... 20.08.2020 @ 15:38One for the road 09.06.2020 @ 15:25List of CyclingQuotes previews 07.05.2020 @ 13:20Blue Energy: room for all interests 26.08.2019 @ 12:56Get your daily dose of exercise at home 08.07.2019 @ 10:443 good advice to be able to afford your favorite bike 25.02.2019 @ 12:32Cycle through gorgeous landscapes 22.10.2018 @ 21:41Balance Your Economy and Diet and Start Saving Money 08.10.2018 @ 11:18Stay Safe: 3 Helmets That Can Keep Your Head Protected... 20.07.2018 @ 07:59Planning to bet on Tour De France - Bet types and strat... 24.05.2018 @ 14:18Basics of cycling betting 25.10.2017 @ 13:10Bauer moves to ORICA-SCOTT 28.08.2017 @ 10:45End of the road for CyclingQuotes 08.01.2017 @ 16:00Rui Costa confirms Giro participation 07.01.2017 @ 12:55Van Avermaet: I am not afraid of Sagan 07.01.2017 @ 09:45Unchanged course for E3 Harelbeke 07.01.2017 @ 09:32Jenner takes surprise win at Australian U23 Championships 07.01.2017 @ 08:53No replacement for Meersman at Fortuneo-Vital Concept 06.01.2017 @ 19:14Barguil with two goals in 2017 06.01.2017 @ 19:06More details about French Vuelta start emerges 06.01.2017 @ 14:16Kristoff to start season at Etoile de Besseges 06.01.2017 @ 14:10Ion Izagirre announces schedule for first year at Bahrain 06.01.2017 @ 12:40JLT Condor optimistic for Herald Sun Tour 06.01.2017 @ 09:19Haas leads Dimension Data trio in fight for Australian... 06.01.2017 @ 09:15Sagan spearheads Bora-hansgrohe at Tour Down Under 06.01.2017 @ 09:12Henao and Thomas lead Sky Down Under 06.01.2017 @ 09:09Bauer crowned New Zealand TT champion 06.01.2017 @ 08:33Van der Poel ready to defend Dutch title 05.01.2017 @ 21:00Pantano ambitious for first Tour with Trek 05.01.2017 @ 20:41Landa with new approach to the Giro 05.01.2017 @ 20:36Sunweb Development Team sign Goos and Zepuntke 05.01.2017 @ 20:27Dumoulin confirms Giro participation 05.01.2017 @ 20:19Bauer targets victories in Quick-Step debut 05.01.2017 @ 20:16Gaviria and Boonen lead Quick-Step in San Juan 05.01.2017 @ 20:13Team Sunweb presented in Germany 05.01.2017 @ 20:09ASO take over major German WorldTour race 05.01.2017 @ 11:01Team Sunweb unveil new jersey 05.01.2017 @ 10:54Reactions from the Australian TT Championships 05.01.2017 @ 08:27Dennis defends Australian TT title 05.01.2017 @ 08:21Scotson takes back to back U23 TT titles in Australia 05.01.2017 @ 08:15Utrecht on track to host 2020 Vuelta 04.01.2017 @ 18:28Pre-season setback for Talansky 04.01.2017 @ 17:56Kristoff: It's not impossible for me to win in Rou... 04.01.2017 @ 17:49Boom close to first cyclo-cross win in LottoNL debut 04.01.2017 @ 17:40UAE Abu Dhabi make late signing of Arab rider 04.01.2017 @ 17:36UAE Abu Dhabi unveil new jersey 04.01.2017 @ 17:30BMC unveil race schedule 04.01.2017 @ 17:21

Currently no news in this list

Goffrey ROUAT
36 years | today
Cédric VERBEKEN
30 years | today
Matthew HOWE
37 years | today
Camilo ZAMBRANO
34 years | today
Pavel LEONOV
29 years | today

© CyclingQuotes.com