Marc Fournier (FDJ) delivered a massive surprise in the first stage of the Circuit Cycliste Sarthe when he claimed his first pro win in a very strange opener of the short French race. Part of a 2-rider breakaway with Grischka Janorschke (Roth), he was given a 20-minute advantage and as the peloton started to chase way too late, he rode to a big solo win after having dropped his companion on the finishing circuit and now leads the race overall. Direct Energie chased hard in the end but Bryan Coquard’s sprint win was only good enough to take second on the stage, 2.15 behind the lone winner.

We have gathered a few reactions.

Surprised Marc Fournier wins in Sarthe: I was just looking for a distinctive jersey

"The German attacked after two kilometers and I thought that it wou could be a good move to join him,” says Fournier. “Finally, we found ourselves in front and I thought that the day would be long. Along the way, I focused on a distinctive jersey as a consolation prize but noting that we had more than 17 minutes early, I started to believe.

“Janorschke cracked on the circuit with 4 laps to go and I was still twelve minutes ahead. That was enough.

And this is a good reward after a very difficult start to the season.”

Direct Energie started to chase when the gap was 10 minutes.

"Noting that nobody wanted to help, they stopped and allowed the gap to reach 17'40''. Marc Fournier, was in his sixth race day and Janorschke cracked on the climb on the final circuit 60 kilometers from the finish but he handled it well. It's still only the second race he finished,” says sports director Thierry Bricaud.

"I broke my wrist in training on November 23 and I underwent surgery on December 15. Then I got the flu two weeks before my first race and I was delayed again. In the first races, I struggled today as it is only the second race I finish after the Route Adélie but I enjoyed myself on Sunday in Paris-Camembert doing 200 kilometers. It was a puncture on the Mur de Champeaux that caused my abandonment.  Winning is good but I did not think that I would do it in my first professional season. It’s hard to understand.”

Behind him, his five teammates did well and he won by more than two minures.

"This is our tenth win of the season, recalls Bricaud. “Last year on this day we had no win until Anthony Roux brought us our first bouquet in Angers in the second stage. We are in a good momentum, our start to the season was successful and the guys get along well. Finally, there was a bit of fight, the peloton was fragmented but Lorrenzo Manzin, Laurent Pichon and Benoît Vaugrenard finished in the first group. "

The victory of Marc Fournier on the first day of the Circuit de la Sarthe reminds sme of Carlos Dacruz in 2003 and Thomas Lövkvist in 2004 and they had the opportunity to win overall. Obviously it would be presumptuous to consider such a success for the rider from FDJ that has so few days of competition in the legs. He was a good time triallist in the youth categories.

"I imagine that in the pros it's different but it's true that I appreciate this discipline. After the road stage tomorrow which should end in a sprint and the short time trial, I think I'll still be on top of the general classification. Then we'll see how I recover. Tonight I will enjoy it with my team!”

“Being European and French champion at the youth level allows you to be noticed but when you turn pro, it’s much harder. For me it's great because I could not imagine winning a race this year. I do not realize what's going on ...”

Sondre Holst Enger takes over from Pelucchi in Sarthe

Sondre Holst Enger sprinted in the finale to take second place from the main field, but since the peloton rolled in over two minutes behind the stage winner, Marc Fournier (FDJ), Holst Enger ended on the third step of the podium for the stage. 

“It was a special stage.  After the two riders broke away, no one initially wanted to take the initiative of chasing,” Holst Enger explained.  “When we managed to catch only one of the two escapees by the finish, I focused on the sprint for second place.” 

Only the Frenchman Bryan Coquard (Direct Energy) managed to pip Holst Enger at the line.  “I am satisfied with this third place.”

”Unfortunately, we did not place one of our riders in that two man breakaway, which is why we were forced to chase when the pursuit picked up,” Lionel Marie, IAM Cycling directeur sportif said.  “The duo succeeded in taking an improbable seventeen minute advantage on the peloton, and with only six riders per team, it is not easy to regain control.  The cooperation of several teams is needed.  In the final, we tried something with Mathias Frank, and then Sondre Holst Enger was able to make a good sprint where he ended up second in the field.”

“It was a difficult day,” Mathias Frank confided after the finish.  “When we knew that a stage victory was no longer an option, I put in an attack to make the finish that much harder.  On the second to last climb, I launched my salvo with help from Vicente Reynes.  Unfortunately, a large group came back together again at the finish.  But then our young talented sprinter, Sondre, was able to put in a good performance.” 

Matteo Pelucchi crashed after around 30 kilometers had been covered for the stage.  He still managed to finish the race, but had to head to the hospital following the finish to get an accurate evaluation of his condition.

Movistar chase left unrewarded in Sarthe

Movistar Team started its participation in the Circuit de la Sarthe (2.HC) chasing hard in a field that let go a two-man break on stage one - so much that they almost cost them the whole race. 21-year-old Marc Fournier (FDJ) amassed a 2'15" advantage at the finish of Château-du-Loir - with Juanjo Lobato in 4th place in the group sprint - as he and Germany's Grischa Janorschke (ROT) took a massive 17-minute gap without any early opposition from the peloton.

Despite Jorge Arcas, Dayer Quintana and the Blues' main sprinter doing all they could, together with Direct Energie, IAM and Cofidis,to reduce the margin, chances for the man from Trebujena were neglected on the opening day of the French race, which should bring a more traditional bunch arrival on Wednesday morning. Tomorrow's 'double sector' in Angers will include a crucial 6.8km time trial in the afternoon.

Stölting: The French teams didn’t want to help Direct Energie and Coquard

For Stölting, Fabian Wegmann placed 15th in the sprint and Lasse Norman Hansen also finished in the first group.

Sports Director Gregor Willwohl said: “The other French teams didn’t want to help Coquard’s squad, and that was ultimately the wrong gamble. We were placed well in the peloton, but on the final circuits some of our riders had to let go of the first group. Lasse made it over the final climb well and was supported by Fabian in the final, but had no reserves left to sprint for a placing.”