Cazouls-lès-Béziers (France) (AFP)
French sprinter Bryan Coquard swallowed Italian European champion Elia Viviani in the last meters of the 1st stage of the Route d'Occitanie on Saturday in Cazouls-les-Béziers where Thibaut Pinot fell a few hundred meters from the line, not serious according to his team.
"It was played on the bike throw", breathed Bryan Coquard (B&B Hotels-Vital Concept) who signs his first success in nearly a year for the return of cycling in France since deconfinement.
What to reassure for the silver medalist of the omnium at the Olympics-2012 who will participate on August 29 in his first Tour de France in four years with the invitation that his team has long awaited.
Among the leaders who came to prepare for the Tour de France, Egan Bernal (Ineos), claiming his succession in yellow, and Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) were classified in the top 10 (6th and 8th).
Proof that the Colombian climber, in Occitania to "build up pressure until the Tour", takes what he described as "good training" very seriously at the start of the stage.
Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ), on the other hand, fell "700 meters from the line" according to his team but does not "suffer a priori from any injury". The Australian Richie Porte (Trek) was also delayed in this choppy final.
Lilian Calmejane (Total Direct Energie), picked up just under 20km from the finish with his last breakaway companion Andreas Kron (Riwal), will have a new chance on Sunday with a 2nd stage between Carcassonne and Cap Découverte (175km).
© 2020 AFP