Plouay (France) (AFP)
Benoît Cosnefroy (AG2R Citroën) offered his first World Tour victory on Sunday in the 85th edition of the Bretagne Classic, beating Julian Alaphilippe and his teammate Mikkel Honoré (Deceuninck-Quick Step) in an explosive sprint after a breakaway over 60 km.
He had dreamed of it for weeks and by stepping onto the podium in Plouay (Morbihan), he took the time to savor, between the reigning world champion and his loyal Danish lieutenant.
Brittany suits him perfectly: he had already won at the Grand Prix de Plumelec and this year won the Tour du Finistère.
Even if everyone expected it, Alaphilippe stepped on the accelerator and shattered the peloton on the stony road to Saoutarlin, 65 kilometers from the finish.
The good escape was born, with on board Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), Honoré and Cosnefroy, to swallow Quinten Hermans (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert) and the indestructible Alessandro De Marchi (Israel Start-up Nation), last resistance of the morning getaway.
But the young Slovenian, double winner of the Tour de France who made his return to competition a month after his bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, did not keep pace and let go of the breakaway after about fifteen kilometers.
After an attempt by Cosnefroy to get away from Marta's bump, the three fumbles collaborated and rolled together, even though Warren Barguil sounded the charge and came back on their heels.
True to himself, Alaphilippe has always looked ahead: "I'm happy, I wanted to be offensive, to have fun, to simply enjoy this great day of racing. We really drove hard in the final. Unfortunately, the cramps started to be felt as the finale ... "
Well supervised by his sports director, Nicolas Guillé, who calmed his ardor on several occasions, Benoît Cosnefroy attempted a last attack in the bump of Pont-Neuf before offering his victorious sprint in front of the two riders of the "Wolfpack" (the pack).
"He deserves it, and this is not the last. I told him that he should have more confidence in himself, he was too suspicious of me (...). This victory will do him good for the future. ", said Alaphilippe, a good player.
"It was cooler, stronger. For my part, I still lacked rhythm."
Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe during the 11th stage of the Tour de France between Sorgues and Malaucène, July 7, 2021 Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP / Archives
Delighted, Cosnefroy confirmed: "I thought I could beat him in the sprint with this false flat uphill where you arrive with a lot of speed. I was focused and I still felt fresh".
© 2021 AFP