Francesco Chicchi (Androni) proved that he still has the speed to win bunch sprints at the top level when he powered to victory in stage 1 of the Boucles de la Mayenne. After the French team had worked all day, the Italian denied the French team the win as he held off Thomas Boudat (Direct Energie) and Julien Duval (Armee) in the bunch sprint. Race leader Bryan Coquard (Direct Energie) could only manage fifth but it was enough to retain the lead.

We have gathered a few reactions.

Francesco Chicchi: The strategy was to follow Bryan Coquard

"Bryan Coquard is very strong right now, and his team controlled the race all day,” Francesco Chicchi told Directvelo. “We are a small Italian team, but we can win anyway! The strategy was to follow Bryan Coquard in the final sprint. In the last turn, my teammates Marco Benfatto and Davide Viganò helped me to take the wheel of Coquard and with 300 meters to go, I went. I had really good legs today. Last week I was at the Tour of Belgium and I left the race in good condition. I am especially glad that this is my first victory this year. The first part of the season was quite complicated. The objective of the team was to win a stage. Now it's done, and since we have a great team here, we will try to win others."

Thomas Boudat after second place: The goal was to win with Coquard

"One can say that it went wrong today,” Thomas Boudat told Directvelo. “We had to do the sprint with [Coquard] but one kilometer from the finish, he was lost. I was in second position, Adrien [Petit] was behind, but Bryan was not there. We tried to slow down in the last corners, but we could not get organized. Suddenly, I found myself in front with 350 meters to go. It was too far from the finish to expect to win. This second place is a small consolation, but the goal was really to win with Bryan

Armee de Terre rider takes surprise third place in Boucles de la Mayenne

“It was quite twisty in the final,” third-placed Julien Duval told Directvelo. “You had to be in a good positioned. In the team, we wanted to play the card of Yannis Yssaad. I had to lead him out but we lost each other just before the last kilometer. I asked him over the radio if he was there but he told me to do my sprint. I found myself in a good position at 300m. At that time, I told myself that I had to start immediately. I was afraid that a guy like Bryan Coquard would pass me within a blinl of eye so I wanted to anticipate. Finally, I took a third place which is satisfactory. This result also allows me to take bonus seconds and temporarily move up to 6th place overall. Now it is the queen stage tomorrow. I think the scenario of the race will depend a lot om the riders from Direct Energie. They have three guys in great shape and in good position, with Bryan Coquard, Thomas Boudat and Adrien Petit. They are able to survive the difficulties. For our part, we will try to do something, and why not win the stage. We should be in the race. In any case, the profile is good. Perhaps nothing will happen. It remains open. From my side, I feel in good condition after my good prologue yesterday (17th) and the 5th place at Boucles de l’Aulne. The shape is there."

Roubaix sprinter confirms consistency at Boucles de la Mayenne

Rudy Barbier (Roubaix Lille Métropol) finished 10th.

"It was a beautiful day,” he told Directvelo. “It was not a fast stage so suspected that the final would be chaotic. That turned out to be true. The finale was very hectic, with lots of skirmishes. Personally, I found myself on the wheel of Bryan (Coquard) three kilometers from the finish. I could hold his wheel until the flamme rouge. It was fine, but we got shut out just before the last corner. Thereafter, it was impossible to get back. It will still retain positive things from the day. Jimmy (Turgis), Jeremy (Leveau) and Florent (Pereira) have done a great job for me all day.

“As for me, I feel good after my knee problem last week in Plumelec. I hit my knee and it quickly got inflamed. I had too much pain to finish the race, and to start the next day at Boucles de l’Aulne. Since then I have felt better and I already did a good prologue yesterday (21st).

“Tomorrow I'll try to work for Julien Antomarchi or Jimmy Turgis early in the race. I want to pay them back. Then there will perhaps again be a bunch sprint and an opportunity for me on Sunday.”