Toulouse (AFP)

Italian sprinter Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain McLaren) won Sunday at Cap Découverte during the second of the four stages of the Route d'Occitanie in which Frenchman Bryan Coquard (B&B Hôtels-Vital Concept) retains the lead after his second place.

If a morning break of six riders could count up to 8 minutes and 30 minutes, the sprinting teams took things in hand 30 kilometers from the finish.

Winner the day before in Cozouls-lès-Béziers (Hérault), Bryan Coquard this time lost to the regular in front of the vice-champion of Italy on the road in 2019.

Victim of a fall at the 73rd kilometer, Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale), hit in the shoulder and elbow, nevertheless reached the finish at the same time as the other leaders and without apparent embarrassment.

The main headliners have an appointment on Monday for the queen stage of this first cycling race in France since the deconfinement, which will bring the riders from Saint-Gaudens (Haute-Garonne) to the Col de Beyrède (Hautes-Pyrénées) or 163.5 kilometers through the Pyrenees.

On the menu, four passes - including three of the 1st category - and more than 4,000 meters of vertical drop that will clearly serve as a justice of the peace.

The main favorites that are Egan Bernal (Ineos), Chris Froome (Ineos), Thibault Pinot (Groupama-FDJ), Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo) or Romain Bardet will be able to test themselves a little less than four weeks before the start of the Tour de France. We will then know a little about the state of form of each other.

© 2020 AFP