Audrey Cordon-Ragot signs a historic double.

After her coronation on Thursday in the time trial, the Breton also won the title of French champion in the road race, beating Gladys Verhulst in the sprint, who still fails to climb the top step of the podium.

She is the first to achieve this feat since Pauline Ferrand-Prevot in 2014.

This double must all the more reassure the Frenchwoman who had a complicated start to the season by the Covid-19.

Thursday, she had shed tears after the delivery of the chrono jersey, relieved to put behind her this moment of her career.

Still moved, she declared that "whatever happens, her season was successful now".

The FDJ has been racing for a long time

In this urban circuit made up of six loops of 20 kilometers, Noémie Abgrall (Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime) is the first to escape.

She is joined in the third round by Jade Wiel of FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine.

A move by the best team in the peloton that forces their opponents to uncover each other.

Less than 10 kilometers later, Sandrine Bideau (St Michel-Auber 93), Margaux Vigié (Valcar-Travel & Service) and Morgane Coston (Arkéa Pro Cycling) break out of the peloton in turn and join the leading group.

The race comes alive again about thirty kilometers from the finish.

On the Côte de la Seguinière, one of the rare difficulties of the course, about fifteen runners took to their heels from the peloton.

The 2020 French champion, Audrey Cordon-Ragot (Trek-Segafredo Women), places a new acceleration a few hectometres further to catch up with the leading group.

In its wake, Gladys Verhulst (Le Col-Wahoo) and Eugénie Duval (FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine-Futuroscope). 

10 km from the finish, Audrey Cordon-Ragot launched hostilities, Gladys Verhulst continued.

The two women let go of their companions from the leading group and agree to compete for the title of French champion in the final sprint – an exercise in which Audrey-Cordon Ragot proves to be the strongest.

The French can be proud.

She had promised herself to do everything to tackle the first Tour de France with the national champion's jersey.

She will have the honor of showing off the blue-white-red tunic at the start on July 24th.

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