After Bryan Coquard (Direct Energie) had won the morning stage, Anton Vorobyev (Katusha) confirmed his status as one of the biggest time trial talents by riding to a narrow win in the third stage of the Circuit Cycliste Sarthe. On the 6.8km course in Angers, he was less than a second faster than the IAM pair of Jerome Coppel and Matthias Brändle while Marc Fournier (FDJ) was a surprise fifth and so retained his overall lead.

 

We have gathered some reactions.

 

Reactions after the morning stage:

 

Coquard: We didn’t want to make the same mistake as yesterday

"The team worked hard all morning. We received the support of IAM, unlike yesterday,” Coquard told L’Equipe. Angelo Tulik perfectly brought me to the final 250m and I only had to finish the job.”

 

"I remembered my defeat against Nacer Bouhanni here three years ago," he told Cyclingnews. "There's a dip under a bridge before the line that makes this sprint special. This time around, I went into it with a maximum of speed. I rode the finale like a track rider."

 

"I wouldn't say it was a disillusion to not sprint for the win yesterday because we chose to not ride behind the breakaway when we realized that nobody would help us. But we didn't want to repeat the same mistake today. We rode at perfection. Angelo Tulik led me out and I could launch my sprint with 250m to go."

 

Later this year Angers will host a Tour de France stage.

 

"It'll be a different finishing line but I hope the winner to be the same," Coquard said. "I'm a local rider here so I'll have plenty of time to come back to Angers and recognize the run in to town and the last few hundred meters."

 

Raymond Kreder after third place: I don’t want many places of honour this year

“Still no victory this year. Another 3rf place today. Really dont want to have a lot of -10 places again this year. #keeptrying,” Kreder tweeted after the race.

 

Marc Fournier optimistic for time trial in Sarthe

"I felt a bit sleepy in the morning at the beginning of the race," overall leader Marc Fournier told Cyclingnews. "Then I rode without taking any risk, thinking of the time trial, which is normally something I'm quite good at."

 

Brenton Jones tests himself in European sprints in Sarthe

”Had a go in the stage 2 sprint today, messy but 6th place #CircuitSarthe. Thanks @DrapacCycling boys for the help. 6.8km ITT this arvo,” Brento Jones tweeted after the stage.

 

Reactions after the time trial:

Anton Vorobyev: I came here to win this stage

It was a stage he looked forward to in the 64th Circuit Cycliste Sarthe – a day Team KATUSHA’s Anton Vorobyev felt could be good for him, and he was right. Vorobyev conquered the short 6,8 km flat course in Angers with a winning time of 8:11 to earn victory in stage 2 (b) on Wednesday.

 

”I am very happy with this victory. It brings me a lot of motivation and confidence in myself. It proves I am on the right way in my preparation and training. After the Volta a Catalunya, I was able to get some good form and later I had some tests and training at home. I came here in good shape and was really looking toward this stage. Today everything went well for me. Of course, I prefer longer time trials, but ok, it was short but good for me. I was able to get good speed and rhythm on the distance and it brought me success. I want to keep improving in this race and later races. My next goal will be Tour de Romandie,” said stage winner Anton Vorobyev.

 

"I'm happy. I came here to target the time trial because I'm a specialist and to help [Tiago] Machado." 

 

Vorobyev held the win by one-second to Jérome Coppel and Matthias Brändle, both of IAM Cycling. The individual time trial came in the afternoon following a short 85,1 km road stage won by Bryan Coquard of Direct Energie.

 

”We knew Anton could do well today. The ITT was ok for him - he was motivated and was able to get the win. Of course, we are all happy, this brings the team a lot of confidence. We had Tiago Machado for GC today and he was not bad in the ITT, so we will see what happens tomorrow in the decisive stage. It is difficult to make big changes in GC but we will keep on trying,” said team director Dmitry Konyshev.

 

The race lead is held by Marc Fournier of FDJ with a 2:24 advantage to Jérome Coppel (IAM Cycling). Team KATUSHA’s Tiago Machado is the best for the team in 14th place (+2.45).

 

Frustrating near-miss for Coppel and Brändle on day of second places for IAM

For the second day of racing at the Circuit Cycliste Sarthe, three different IAM Cycling riders claimed podium positions.  For the first of the dual stage day, which was an 85.1 kilometer trek that ended in a sprint, Matteo Pelucchi only just missed out on the victory by taking a close second.  And it was even closer for the second stage of the day which was a 6.8 kilometer individual time trial in the afternoon.  There Jérôme Coppel and Matthias Brändle both had victory snatched from them by the narrowest of one second margins.  Both IAM Cycling riders ended just a second off the winner Anton Vorobyev (Katusha).

 

"Although I am satisfied with my ride, it's tough to lose by such a small margin," says Matthias Brändle.  “You always wonder where you lost that second.  Still, this result gives me a lot of confidence going forward.  Considering that last year Jérôme was the bronze medalists at the world championships in the time trial, and Vorobyev was 2012 U23 World time trial champion, it’s not such a bad result.  The prologue at the Giro is my big goal, and I still have some time to prepare before that.”

 

Lionel Marie, directeur sportif for the IAM Cycling team, also came away from the time trial feeling a little frustrated. 

 

“Once again we missed the victory by just a hair’s breath.  This time, we took second and third, no less, and by less than a second,” Marie exclaimed.  “Thanks also to strong rides by Sondre Holst Enger (10th) and Mathias Frank (11th), we were the best team for the day.  Nevertheless, we have not given up on the chance for a stage win, and we will keep trying.  Tomorrow is a new day.”

 

In the time trial, there were four IAM Cycling riders among the top-11 finishers.  In addition to the two podiums from Coppel and Brändle, Sondre Holst Enger and Mathias Frank grabbed the 10th and 11th places as well.

 

Jérôme Coppel, the French national time trial champion, has taken control of the second place in the overall classification after his ride Wednesday afternoon.  Close behind him are teammates Sondre Holst Enger (5th) and Mathias Frank (10th), with just two more stages to go in the race.

 

Excellent day for FDJ on busy day in Sarthe
It goes well for the FDJ team at Circuit de la Sarthe. After the magnificent raid of Marc Fournier in the first stage, Lorrenzo Manzin took fourth place Wednesday morning on the second stage and Laurent Pichon ended in the same place in the time trial, 6 seconds behind. Fifth at 8 seconds, Marc Fournier is a strong leader of the race.

 

The success of Marc Fournier Tuesday gave moral and it is with great desire that the six riders of sports directorThierry Bricaud enjoyed this day which confirmed the talent of Marc Fournier who was one of the best amateur riders.

 

 

"Lorrenzo Manzin was very motivated," ensures Thierry Bricaud, "and his teammates had a great position. Laurent Pichon and Benoît Vaugrenard took care of Mark and Seb Chavanel and Kevin Reza looked after their sprinter. He did his best sprint of the year. Coquard (Direct Energie), the winner, Pelucchi (IAM) and Kreder (Roompot-Orange) passed him in the final metres.

 

 

Pichon was fourth in the time trial.

 

"Laurent is getting better," says his manager, "and he was done well to post a good time. He surprised himself to be able to ride that fast! With his yellow jersey, Marc Fournier started last and did excellent since he conceded just eight seconds and confirmed his yellow jersey despite doing some technical mistakes! Overall, he is ahead of Coppel by 2'24'' and Laurent Pichon by2'29 ''. Tomorrow, the stage to Pre-en-Pail with the Mont Avaloirs climb six times will be decisive. It will not be easy but we are not beaten yet and I know our impeccable road captain Benoît Vaugrenard will do the job!"

 

Overall leader Marc Fournier after excellent time trial in Sarthe: I am over the moon

"I'm over the moon," Marc Fournier told Cyclingnews. “I didn't expect to be in this situation at all. I came to this race out of the blue to replace Odd Christian Eiking who was sick. It was strange to see experienced riders like Sébastien Chavanel, Kevin Reza and Benoît Vaugrenard protecting me this morning. I knew I had good abilities for time trial but my time shows that I have recovered well from my breakaway yesterday."

 

"I felt strong. It's fantastic to be so close to big names like Vorobyev, Coppel and Brändle. It proves how good my form is now.”

 

"The final win isn't acquired yet. But a two minutes margin is something. But now I can only believe in my chances. Very few riders like this climb because it badly hurts the legs," he said regarding tomorrow’s stage.

 

Movistar climber within striking distance in Sarthe

The double sector in the Circuit de la Sarthe on Wednesday brought a bunch sprint in Angers - won by Bryan Coquard (DEN), as Juanjo Lobato ran out of luck to position himself, finishing in 22nd place - and a narrow TT win in the evening for Anton Vorobyev (KAT). Javi Moreno, already very active yesterday in pursuit of the day's successful break, led the Blues on the 6.8km course for a fine 8th spot, 17" back. The Andalusian allrounder will have a nice chance tomorrow on the six climbs of Avaloirs, as Marc Fournier (FDJ) defends on the Queen stage his two-minute gap ammassed after the long attack on Tuesday.

 

Napolitano and Bille put Wanty in the mix in Sarthe

Wanty Groupe Gobert was also active in the Circuit de la Sarthe in France. After the first stage, they were two stages scheduled today  with a morning stage of 95 kilometers and an individual time trial of 6.8 kilometers in the streets of Angers. With a fifth place this morning and a ninth place in the time trial, the team Wanty-Groupe Gobert can look back on a successful day Wanty Groupe Gobert.

 

”The good level of Gaëtan Bille is absolutely no surprise. I'm really satisfied with his performance,” sports director Jean-Marc Rossignon said.

 

This morning, the early breakaway was caught in the last meters. Bryan Coquard won the bunch sprint. Our Italian sprinter Danilo Napolitano took the fifth place.

 

"The team worked well for me. I was hoping for a better result, but it was a tight and dangerous sprint because everyone had fresh legs," Danilo Napolitano recalls.

 

In this morning stage, Gaëtan Bille took one seconde time bonus. He climbed to the sixth place in the general classification before the start of the time trial. In the time trial he did very well with a ninth place at 17 seconds from the winner Anton Vorobyev (Team Katusha).

 

With two stages to go, Gaëtan Bille is seventh in the overall standings at 2’39’’ of Marc Fournier (FDJ).

 

Tomorrow, the queen stage takes place with a lot of short climbs.

 

“If Gaëtan has the same legs as today, we can expect a great result,” Jean-Marc Rossignon concludes.

 

Ciolek and Norman deliver good results for Stölting in Sarthe

It was a long day for riders and staff at the Circuit Cycliste Sarthe – Pays de la Loire (2.1), but the two half-stages produced some good result for Team Stölting Service Group: Gerald Ciolek placed 7th on the morning sprint stage while Lasse Norman Hansen took the 13th place in the afternoon individual time trial.

 

Bryan Coquqard (Direct Energie) won the sprint, Gerald Ciolek showed his end speed by finishing 7th. Lasse Norman Hansen and Fabian Wegmann were protected well by the team, and the other riders also finished in the peloton.

 

The 6.8 km individual time trial was held in the afternoon. Romain Lemarchand was the first Team Stölting Service Group rider on the course and put in a good time, eventually finishing 31st, 33 seconds behind stage winner Anton Vorobyev (Team Katusha). It started to rain towards the end of the time trial; Lasse Norman Hansen wasn’t impeded by the rain, however, and finished in 13th place, 19 seconds slower than Vorobyev.

 

“Gerald mixed it up in the sprint again,” said Sports Director Gregor Willwohl. “He wasn’t far from the win. In the time trial, Romain could test himself against the French elite. He’s not in top form yet, so his placing is alright. Lasse did well too, only just missing the top 10. Tomorrow’s stage has a difficult finishing circuit, we’ll support Lasse and Fabian for that.”