Wanty-Groupe Gobert successfully defended Guillaume Martin’s leading position in the final stage of Circuit de la Sarthe (03-06/04, 2.1) on Friday. A breakaway of five riders jumped away, after which Fabien Doubey, Marco Minnaard, Boris Vallée and Thomas Degand did everything they could to defend Martin and Meurisse. With success, because Martin kept his lead and the second place of Meurisse wasn’t threatened either.
When the Irishman McLay won the sprint, our team had brought home the final victory. For the 24-year-old Martin from Normandy, it is the third stage race win after Tour du Gévaudan and Giro della Toscana. Wanty-Groupe Gobert is also the winner of the team’s classification.
Guillaume Martin:
“In retrospect we can say that this day went well We controlled the breakaway well. Maybe we should have given the escapees more freedom because we were sometimes attacked in the local laps. We stayed quiet all day because our collective was very strong. And then Xandro, second in the standings, was there in case of problems. “
“My confidence grew after an altitude camp in Sicily and then in Coppi e Bartali. But it is important to harvest when you’re in shape, especially at the beginning of the season. I hope that these first two victories take away the pressure on everyone in the team. “
“I notice that we ride well where we are not expected! Coppi e Bartali went well, while we did not have to participate because it was a replacement for Volta Catalunya. First we were not even selected here for Circuit de la Sarthe Thanks to a boost from our partner BTP Consultants, we finally came to the start and we know the rest of the story. “
“I come in much better shape to the Ardennes classics than last year. I choose Paris-Camembert and Tour Finistere in the run-up because these races suit me better, and again the collective strength will be important. Brabantse Pijl is always a nervous race, so I prefer Paris-Camembert in my home region. Finistère next weekend is the same course as a stage in Le Tour, so it will be an ideal reconnaissance. And Amstel is not a classic that suits me will. I will arrive in Belgium for Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège just in time. “
