Groupama-FDJ United and Romain Grégoire were surely expecting more from the Vuelta a Andalucia, especially from its fifth stage, but the Frenchman was simply beaten fair and square in Lucena. After a demanding final, the punchy rider from Besançon claimed third place on the stage, twelve seconds behind Tom Pidcock, eventually slipping to fifth overall. Impressive this Sunday, Clément Braz Afonso secured eighth place on the stage and the same position in the final GC. A week made of solid results, without a victory, but also without regrets.
On paper, the “Ruta del Sol” was still undecided at the start in La Roda de Andalucía this Sunday, as two ascents of Alto de La Primera Cruz (2.8 km at 6%, ramps up to 10%) were scheduled within the final thirty-five kilometers. Enough to potentially reshuffle the general classification, or at least spark some action. While waiting for this hilly final, the day was initially relatively calm, with the peloton controlling the race behind a three-man breakaway. After 130 kilometres, the escapees still managed to tackle the first of the two climbs with a small advantage, but the peloton upped the pace approaching the summit with a few bonus seconds at stake. The break was caught, a first sprint took place, and then Romain Grégoire showed himself for the first time on the descent. Shortly after, Clément Braz Afonso followed a few attacks, but almost everything came back together before tackling the second ascent of Alto de La Primera Cruz. At the foot of the climb, eight kilometers from the finish, Groupama-FDJ United moved up in numbers at the front. With 1,500 metres to the summit, Clément Braz Afonso raised the tempo ahead of Romain Grégoire and Bastien Tronchon, the peloton stretched out, split apart, and the final battle began.
“I don’t think we could have done any better” – Yvon Caër
Tom Pidcock then launched an attack that Romain Grégoire could not follow, while Bastien Tronchon briefly tried to hold the Briton’s wheel before having to give up as well. “We raced the way we were supposed to,” Romain explained. “There are no regrets, Pidcock and Christen were just stronger. I was hoping to feel better than that, but there wasn’t much more to do today.” The Frenchman went over the top in a group of six alongside his teammate Clément Braz Afonso, around fifteen seconds behind Pidcock and ten behind Christen. “We said the finish was at the top, and indeed the order over the summit was practically the same as at the finish,” said Yvon Caër. “Romain was just missing that tiny bit physically, even though it’s already very good. I want to give special mention to the whole team for carrying out the plan as intended, and an even stronger mention to Clément Braz Afonso, who enabled Romain to take the bonus seconds at the finish.”
After his teammate’s work in the final two kilometres, Romain Grégoire powered his way to third place in the sprint, wrapping up the week with a third stage podium for Groupama-FDJ United. “I don’t think we could have done any better,” Yvon concluded. “We were there when it mattered, the riders committed 100%, and we can simply be pleased to have riders in good condition and with the right mindset. The week’s results are satisfying, even if it’s not exactly what we came for. We are here to win, but we also see that the level of the peloton is very even and already very high. It’s up to us to step up a level to be able to win soon. I think many of our riders are where they need to be and ready to perform in races of an even higher level as early as next week.” Romain Grégoire is next expected at the Boucles Drôme-Ardèche. “We at least secured fifth place overall,” said the Frenchman. “It’s a good way to start the season, even if there’s still a bit of work to do before the main objectives.”
