For the second round of the Franche-Comté weekend, also the last one this year, the Groupama-FDJ United Cycling Team left the Tour du Jura on Saturday with a result quite similar to the one achieved the day before in Besançon. However, at the summit of Mont Poupet, Guillaume Martin-Guyonnet and Clément Braz Afonso secured sixth and seventh places after a much more animated race, driven in particular by the efforts of Groupama-FDJ United. American rider Matthew Riccitello took the win.
With the cancellation of the Tour du Doubs this year, the Franche-Comté cycling weekend was set to end on Saturday on the slopes of Mont Poupet (4 km at 8%), the decisive climb of the Tour du Jura for the fourth consecutive year. In addition to the final ascent, the race featured 3,000 metres of elevation gain and terrain conducive to aggressive racing. An opportunity that Groupama-FDJ United intended to seize. “We understood on Friday that three riders were stronger and that it would be difficult to win if the race came down to the finishing climb,” explained Thierry Bricaud. “On the other hand, we were quite strong collectively, so we had to make it a dynamic race. That’s what we tried to do.” After letting other teams control the race, the French squad appeared at the front with about 40 kilometres to go on the tough climb of Thésy (3.5 km at 9%), where Tom Donnenwirth and Rémy Rochas shattered the peloton. “The idea was good,” Thierry said. “We had decided to make the race harder to eliminate as many teammates as possible, but there were no surprises. The same riders as yesterday emerged. We were a bit behind, but the guys stayed calm. Guillaume felt better than yesterday; he managed his effort and stayed in contact with Clément [Braz Afonso]. We tried, but the competition also has the right to defend itself…”
“We had to try” – Thierry Bricaud
About 30 kilometres from the finish, a group of around thirty riders came back together, including the two previously mentioned, along with Clément Berthet, who rejoined on the Thésy climb. “The guys then tried to attack and gain an advantage in the transition sections, but the others didn’t let them go,” Thierry continued. “We also knew we were exposing ourselves to counterattacks once things became clearer, but we had to try. A bike race is never decided in advance. If you don’t take initiative, you can’t know.” Two riders managed to break away to join the last survivor of the early break, but they had only a 20-second lead at the base of Mont Bouquet over a group of fifteen riders, including Guillaume Martin-Guyonnet and Clément Braz Afonso. On the first slopes, however, the Groupama-FDJ United duo could not match the best. “The top three from yesterday broke away again today, then it came down to a battle between eight or nine riders behind,” Thierry added. “The guys did their best, Guillaume even had a small gap at one point, but he was caught, and both riders ended up sprinting for fourth place.”
At the finish, the Normandy climber took sixth place, with his younger teammate in seventh. “We are where we belong over the weekend,” Thierry concluded. “Clément [Berthet, 15th] felt a bit less strong than yesterday, Guillaume had some sinus issues, and Clément [Braz Afonso] needs a breather after a strong start to the season. Still, I’ll remember the team’s aggressive mindset today. As early as last night, they wanted to take the initiative. They did it with intent, and that’s the kind of attitude that will bring us results.”
