Matteo Trentin (Etixx-QuickStep) confirmed the excellent form he had shown in the Tour de Wallonie when he claimed victory in the bunch sprint on the first stage of the Tour de l’Ain. After his teammates had controlled the stage all day, the Italian beat Rudy Barbier (Roubaix) and Phil Bauhaus (Bora-Argon 18) in the final dash to the line and so became the first leader of the race.

We have gathered a few reactions.

Matteo Trentin: The final turn made the difference

Just a few days after turning 27, Matteo Trentin got himself a nice present by winning stage 1 of the Tour de l'Ain, the only one suited to sprinters at this 28th edition, and donning the yellow jersey. Etixx – Quick-Step hit the forefront and took command of the peloton, clawing back time with the help of AG2R and Lotto-Soudal. By the time the riders entered on the local circuit, only 30 seconds were separating the leaders off the chasers, who eventually brought them back inside the last 10 kilometers.

Victorious in two races this season – Giro d'Italia stage 18 and Tour de Wallonie stage 4 – Matteo Trentin got himself involved again in the sprint, and although the finish wasn't quite piece of cake, he managed to overcome its tricky nature and make use of his impressive turn of speed, defeating Rudy Barbier (Roubaix Lille Metropole) and Phil Bauhaus (Bora-Argon 18) for Etixx – Quick-Step's 42nd victory of the season.

"I am very happy with this win, especially as it shows my good condition. Davide Martinelli did a great job leading me out and in the final 350 meters I entered sixth on a really long bend, from which I came out third. That was very important, as I could launch my sprint the way I wanted. I have to thank the team for the trust they had in me and for protecting me throughout the day. I hope to give it another go tomorrow, depending on how the race will unfold, and then help our GC guys in the last two stages", said Matteo Trentin, who is leading a stage race for the first time this year.

"We tried unsuccessfully to control the race,” he told Directvelo. “Later, we tried to accelerate to create splits in the peloton, but again without success. Finally, the three escapees were caught. I took it easy before the last corner rather than taking it hard and then I launched my sprint. During the first passage I saw that several competitors had taken it too fast. I gave everything on the finishing straight in which I was really well positioned made ​​by my teammates. I saw immediately that I had won. I think I had a lead of half a wheel over the runner-up (Rudy Barbier). I am very happy with this victory which rewards a great work of the team during the entire stage.”

Late substitute Phil Bauhaus nearly wins first stage at the Tour de l’Ain

For Phil Bauhaus the tagee was originally not of interest because he was not planned to enter the race. But after Gregor Mühlberger got a cold at the beginning of the week, he was the one to replace him. He got the call on Monday so his race preparation was not ideal.

This time BORA – ARGON 18’s lead-out worked perfectly. The team was able to position Rudi Selig and Phil Bauhaus in the top spots going into the last kilometre. Selig took the last corner in first position with Bauhaus on his wheel, but on the home straight Trentin and Barbier were able to pass him. Still this 3rd place is a strong result, especially taking into account the late call.

“I think everything worked out perfectly today. The guys did a great job and we took the last corner in position one and two, so what more can you expect? But it looks like the other guys had a better line through the corner and carried a little more speed on the home straight. I think that’s why they were able to overtake me. But I think the whole team can be happy with the performance today,” said Phil Bauhaus  

Bert De Backer gets rare chance to sprint

Team Giant-Alpecin returned to France this week to take part in the 28th edition of the Tour de l’Ain. Bert de Backer took 6th place.

Bert De Backer said:

“I was happy to get the chance to sprint today and it was a pleasure to be involved in the finale.”

Arnaud Gerard: It was a waste of energy

Arnaud Gérard (Fortuneo Vital Concept) took the mountains jersey.

"I wanted to try something today and I decided to try to escape,” he told Directvelo. “It was a beautiful stage for sprinters but the stage remained fairly open. I think the fact that we were only three in the break ended our hopes prematurely. It would have been better to be four to six riders. Added to this the fact that some teams controlled the race well, it was almost impossible to make it. It was a wasted effort but it is a good day of racing. The three os us gave 100%. I needed to go hard for the next races. It was important to me. The polka-dot jersey? This is anecdotal. But whenyou get to the climb, you always sprint. At least I was sure to have something in the end.”

LottoNL-Jumbo: Tomorrow’s stage is better for Enrico Battaglin

Italian Enrico Battaglin finished 11th in the first stage of the Tour de l’Ain today in France. The Team LottoNL-Jumbo rider got boxed in in the chaotic bunch sprint, won by Matteo Trentin (Etixx - Quick Step).

“We don’t have a real sprinter with us, but Enrico Battaglin gets the chance to perform in the bunch sprints,” Sports Director Nico Verhoeven said. “The finish was completely flat today. The final metres were fast and chaotic. You need a bit of luck in sprints like that and today, there wasn’t really much more possible than this 11th place.

“This stage was Robert Gesink’s first race after his crash in the Tour de Suisse,” Verhoeven continued. “He came through the day without any problems. It was the easiest stage of the week, though. Tomorrow, the stage is longer. The riders have to cross two three-kilometre climbs with an average seven per cent gradient. The bunch will get smaller in that part of the race. I’m expecting a sprint with a group of 40 to 50 riders. That’s a better situation for Enrico than it was today.”

Successful debut for Movistar stagiaire

23-year-old Richard Carapaz opened his Movistar Team stay as trainee for the remainder of the season as he took the start of the Tour de l'Ain on Wednesday, over a fast, flat 149.6km route between La Plaine-Tonique and Saint-Vulbas. No time-significant troubles were suffered by the José Luis Laguía-led squad as Juanjo Lobato (12th) completed the best performance from the Blues in the day's mass sprint. 

Geniez (FDJ), Voeckler (DEN) and Gérard (FVC) led the whole stage on the breakaway until the final 7km, with AG2R and Etixx-Quick Step subsequently leading the field to secure the bunch kick, where Italian Matteo Trentin prevailed ahead of Rudy Barbier (RLM). Thursday's lumpy circuit (173km), around the Cat-3 Côte de Cossiat - 41km from the finish in Montréal-la-Cluse - will be the first duel for climbers ahead of Friday and Saturday.

Thomas Voeckler after failed attack: Tomorrow’s stage suits me better

Thomas Voeckler (Direct Energie) was in the break

"It was a stage that had to end in a sprint, but we would have liked it to be otherwise,” he told Directvelo. “We had a classic scenario. We knew it would be complicated to stay away. I planned to escape today for several reasons: the wind was favorable, the stage was short and we do not have a sprinter in the team. The stage tomorrow (Thursday) is the one that is best for me before Saturday, but there is a high level this year at the Tour de l'Ain. I will take it stage by stage. Lilian Calmejane can make a good result overall. A Top 10 would not hurt for us. "

Stölting marred by bad luck at the Tour de l’Ain

Team Stölting Service Group doesn’t have a real sprinter in the race, but rode for Christian Mager who crossed the finish line in 19th position.

After the stage, Sports Director André Steensen said: “Christian was in the fight for positions in the final and did his best. 19th is about what we expected. Lennard [Kämna] and Thomas [Koep] supported him well and did a good piece of work.”

There were a number of crashes during the stage: “We had some bad luck, being involved in several crashes,” Steensen continued. “Romain [Lemarchand] was hurt the most; Thomas, Lennard, and Sven [Reutter] also went down, but came off lightly. Romain hurt his hand and knee, but made it to the finish. Other than that, the stage was relatively uneventful. Tomorrow will be more challenging; I hope that we can stay with the best on the last climb.”

Mechanical takes Tosh van der Sande out of contention at the Tour de l’Ain

Lotto Soudal let Sander Armée and Jelle Wallays help chasing down the break. The stage ended with a sprint. Unfortunately Tosh Van der Sande had mechanical problems in the sprint.