The runner of the Belgian team Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl won his first title of champion of France, Sunday in Cholet, by ahead of Anthony Turgis and Axel Zingle.
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The Belgian team Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl keeps the blue-white-red jersey in its possession. A year after Rémi Cavagna, Florian Sénéchal succeeded his teammate by offering himself, Sunday, June 26, in Cholet, his first title of champion of France. The 28 -year -old northern has ahead of Anthony Turgis (Totalenergies) and Axel Zingle (Cofidis) in a five -fifth sprint, thus winning the fifth professional victory of his career.
“We exchange the jersey with Rémi [Cavagna], smiled the winner of the day after arrival. It’s an emotion … I don’t go down, I will understand when I will put the jersey. Fairly hard year, the wheel is finally turning. It’s nice for all the sacrifices that I do far from my family. It feels good. “
After a long embrace with his partner, “Senech” (his nickname) let out a few tears on the podium with the tricolor jersey on the shoulders and while the Marseillaise resonated.
Florian Sénéchal is 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞! 🇫🇷
All in power and well led by his teammates, the runner of… https://t.co/htlikdyzh
In a 240-kilometer course (12 laps with a 20-kilometer circuit) traced around Cholet (Maine-et-Loire) and logically cut for a sprinter, Florian Sénéchal created a little surprise. The looks were, in fact, turned towards Arnaud Démare, who was aimed at a fourth national title which would have allowed him to match the record of Jean Stablinski. Already winner of four stages this season, including three during the Tour of Italy, the sprinter of the Groupama-FDJ formation was trapped (6 e ).
Apart from maybe Bryan Coquard (16
an impressive work of the ghost alaphilippe
Despite their numerical inferiority -since there were only three on the starting line -, the runners of the Quick -Step Alpha Vinyl team went to the offensive. In the Séguinière coast, 11 kilometers from the finish, Florian Sénéchal flew with Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis), taking advantage of the colossal work of his teammate and world champion Julian Alaphilippe.
Back in competition for the first time since his very violent fall during Liège-Bastogne-Liège (a pneumothorax, an omoplate and two fractured ribs), on April 24, the latter reassured his form while His participation in the Tour de France is still unanswered. “It went well, he looked happy with him, satisfied,” said his coach and Cousin, Franck Alaphilippe, at the microphone of Eurosport. He finally finished 13
Florian Sénéchal and Benjamin Thomas then thought he was competing for the duel victory, before being joined, 1.5 kilometers from the finish, by Anthony Turgis, Warren Barguil (Arkea-Samsic) and Axel Zingle. The latter, champion of France amateur last season, had the perfect opportunity to reiterate the feat, from his first participation in Elite, benefiting from the help of his teammate Benjamin Thomas. But the company failed, and Florian Sénéchal was the strongest in this final sprint.
Like Julian Alaphilippe, the presence of the new French champion on the roads of the Grande Boucle is far from being insured. “Unfortunately, I cannot answer, regretted the latter before getting on the podium. It is up to my team to make the official announcement.” He is, in any case, reconciled with France, he who had never raised his arms in winner.