Groupama-FDJ United headed into the Clásica de Almería this Sunday with genuine ambitions, built around their sprinter Paul Penhoët, who was making his return to racing. Unfortunately, the young man never had the chance to show his speed in Roquetas de Mar, as he was caught up in a crash ten kilometres from the finish, shortly after Bastien Tronchon had also gone down. Clément Russo then tried to take over for the sprint, but his effort was abruptly halted following a collision 200 metres from the line.
Six riders from Groupama-FDJ United were kicking off their 2026 season this Sunday on the Andalusian coast. Alongside Maxime Decomble, recently third at the Étoile de Bessèges, Paul Penhoët, Clément Russo, Valentin Madouas, Clément Braz Afonso, newcomer Bastien Tronchon and the young Karl Sagnier formed an ambitious line-up at the start in Puebla de Vícar. A bunch sprint was expected after 189.7 kilometres of racing, and Penhoët was eager to test himself for the first time this year. Before that, a classic race scenario unfolded, with five breakaway riders kept firmly under control by the peloton. “This race can sometimes be shaken up by the wind as we approach the coast, around sixty-five kilometres from the finish, but we knew there wouldn’t be any wind today and that it would be very calm,” explained William Green. “The goal was to save our energy while several teams worked to bring the break back, which they did with twenty-five kilometres to go.”
“It seems that the odds were against us” – William Green
Nervousness increased significantly within the peloton over the final twenty kilometres. “We had a strategy for the sprint: to stay patient, because we knew there was enough time and space to move up in the final three kilometres,” William added. “Unfortunately, things started to heat up in the bunch with ten kilometres to go, before entering the town and its many roundabouts.” From that point on, the race took an unfortunate turn for Groupama-FDJ. “The fight for position is always intense before entering the town, but our aim was to save energy there,” William said. “Bastien wasn’t even fighting for position when he was caught up in an unfortunate crash. We stuck to the plan, and Paul was still with Clément Braz Afonso and Clément Russo. He briefly lost the wheels with eight kilometres to go, but there was still plenty of time, and just as he was moving back towards the others, he was unfortunately involved in another crash. That was the end of his sprint. It was a really chaotic final.”
That impression held true right to the end of the race. “After Paul’s crash, it was all for Clément,” William continued. “He had to manage the sprint on his own, and a top ten was definitely possible looking at the footage. Unfortunately, with 200 metres to go, an NSN rider came across the bunch, forcing Clément to brake, and that was it. At the end of the day, that’s cycling, these things happen, but it seems that the odds were against us. Fortunately, Paul and Bastien are both okay. They’ve lost some skin, but they should be ready for the Vuelta a Andalucía. It’s obviously a frustrating first day, but we just have to forget about it and move on. The motivation was there, and we now need to refocus for what’s next.”
