Tro Div Ster stage 3: getting stuck in!

So after the disappointing TT in the morning I was ready to make ammends in the final stage in the afternoon.

The GC out of the window for us but not for the top few riders who were only seperated by a handful of seconds, this was going to come down to the wire!


Billed as a relatively flat stage with two KOM points a small 2.5km circuit to start with to be done 3 times, followed by a 62.5km loop and finished off with a 6km crit like finishing circuit do be done 5 times.

Saur Sojasun in yellow with UC Nantes and Cholet snapping at their heals, the next 100km would decide the overall and for myself would be an opportuntity to get envolved in some moves and hopefully make a breakaway.

From our lunch stop at Lanester we had a 20 minute drive to the start of the final stage in a town called Erdeven. Arriving and the weather was great, 24 degrees and sunny. Early we headed off for a coffee and chilled out. Bikes prepped by helpers and kitted up, we signed on and I set of for a 20 minute warm up and a look round the 2.5km starting loop.

chat with manager, Yvon before stage 3

Unlike the morning my legs felt good, infact they felt great! So lined up 2:15pm and we were off.


From the gun the pace was on and I sat relatively comfortably in the first 20 riders as Sojasun lined the bunch out. The 2.5km loop was a twisting one and one definately to be ridden near the front.


Coming out of the 3 starting loops the bunch was in one line and the attacks were flying. Keen to get in a move I followed the wheels and was soon away with a Nantes and Cotes d'Armor rider. Feeling strong was not enough as the bunch was in hot pursuit and soon we were back in the fold, only for more numerous attacks to follow.


With a high quality field such as this it is pretty much down to a bit of calculation and luck as to who to follow. I found this out as soon a 4 rider group had slipped away and soon had built a small gap. I'd missed the move, more out of bad luck than anything.


So the break was established at 20 or so seconds. Saur Sojasun were in no mood though to lose the GC and had 5 riders on the front of the bunch and thus lining it out. 40km in and onto the first KOM. My team mate Pascal knowing I was feeling good got me into the top dozen riders as we hit the bottom of the 1km ascent. Feeling good the attacks began and although I couldnt respond to the first one I got in a chase group and crested the hill.


Flat out, Safe to say somes up the next few kilometres as break, chase and bunch were hammering along. 50km and final KOM the pace hadnt let up and we flew up it.


To put it simply the next 10km were the same, in that Saur Sojasun basically kept the hammer down and literally kept the bunch in one long line.


Onto the finishing circuit. Now as dangerous finishing circuits go I think this was well up there...6km loop, 3 roundabouts, 2 train track crossings and a load of road furniture..good job we werent hurtling round it then 5 times at close to 50km/h!

 Across the finishing line for the first time the crowds were big and the atmosphere electric.  The break were holding a minutes lead yet the gap was coming down. Last lap and were break were caught. A big bunch kick was on the cards. Great..for a sprinter!




So with good legs again it was all coming down to a sprint and to be honest I chickened out. Last 1km and with two roundabouts 100 riders and the win on the cards the bunch were all over the place. Not confidient about getting stuck in with this I sat back abit and as the sprint opened up I was about 30/40 riders back and did sprint and surprisingly actually made up quite a few places. 

So final stage done. 44km/h average. Can say 100km done literally km 0 to 100 pretty much lined out!

Very hot and very very fast. Sojasun held onto yellow, UC Nantes won the stage, all our team finished in bunch safely and personally I had given it a good go with a few attacks on the final stage. 

 Unfortunately this was a race really between the big few teams and was only decided by that TT. A shame there wasnt a couple more stages or harder parcours to break things up a little.

Good news is legs are good, just hoping upcoming races have a few more hills in it to split things up abit! Not sure I can face another bunch sprint!