It is undoubtedly one of the longest and impressive sprints of the season that has just offered us Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ) on the Tudle on Luxembourg ! Launched at 300m by his teammates and in particular Tom Donnenwirththe Frenchman resisted upon returning from Marijn van den Berg (EF Education Easypost) and Marc Hirschi (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) to have a fifth success this year and have completed a controlled day for his team.
“We wanted to look for her in a big team”
“I certainly attacked too far, but I didn't really have a choice,” explained Romain Grégoire In the preamble to his post-race interview on L'Equipe chain. “I had asked Tom (Donnwirth) to harden at the foot of the bump, when he started to tire, at 300-350m, I was in front and I could no longer backtrack. It does not matter, I gave everything and it kept, even if I was a little afraid, I felt Marijn (van den Berg) come back strong behind but it did it too happy.”
The sensations are there for French, and therefore chose to take matters into their own hands in the end of this first step: “I felt super well so I did not hesitate to ask the team to ride so that we go to look for this victory, we wanted to look for it in a big team and that is what we did. We took things in my hand far from the arrival, still in the final I had guys who did a great job to place me and harden at the foot of the bump so it's a team victory, we are super happy.”
“We will see for the general a little later …”
In the mixed zone on arrival, the winner of this first step added: “This is a step that I had really checked, that I wanted to win. I went out in confidence of the Tour de Great Britain, I really wanted to do well here. I did not hesitate to ask the team to take control, that's what we did, we assumed our role. The team really did a great job today, whether it was to control the breakaway or to position me in the best possible situations. team and we are super happy to bring the victory after this effortement.
The Frenchman went to seek this Wednesday the 5th victory of his season: “I think that each victory is different, each victory is beautiful. Each time it is a great relief to win. After the Tour de Great Britain, it makes two victories won more or less in the sprint, in any case in fairly compact platoons in the last kilometer. It is something that I did not necessarily do in recent years. It shows that I also progress on this capacity to explore, to go quickly. Sure, there are many beautiful steps in Luxembourg. concluded Romain Grégoire.
