More top-10 finishes and an overall podium for Victor Loulergue
# Victor Loulergue Shines at Circuit des Ardennes with Consistent Performances
Victor Loulergue showcased his impressive consistency during the Circuit des Ardennes, finishing with three top-10 results, including a podium spot, which secured him an overall third place. Competing for La Conti Groupama-FDJ, Loulergue completed the challenging event with additional finishes of 8th and 4th over the weekend, setting a solid foundation ahead of the forthcoming Liège–Bastogne–Liège U23.
Entering the weekend ranked sixth overall, Loulergue faced a tough challenge on Saturday’s queen stage, covering nearly 200 kilometers with a grueling 3,600 meters of elevation gain across ten climbs. Jérôme Gannat, his sports director, commented on the difficult terrain. “It was a hard day… The peloton completely exploded at that moment,” he noted, referring to the pivotal Mont Malgré-Tout climb. Loulergue, alongside his teammate Rémi, stayed in the mix, ultimately navigating a series of attacks and tactical maneuvers through the stage.
Despite his efforts in attempting to break away, including an attack with over fifty kilometers remaining, Loulergue ended the day in 8th place, trailing the leading group by 27 seconds. Gannat reflected on his tactic, stating, “He may have shown too much that he was strong and wanted to win.” Nevertheless, Loulergue’s resilience saw him rise to third overall, a promising position before the final stage.
The concluding leg from Sedan to Charleville-Mézières offered minimal opportunity to close the gap with the race leader. The strategy shifted towards creating breaks, with Soan making an impactful move on a difficult climb. Loulergue made a last-ditch effort with forty kilometers left but ultimately faced a swift return to the main group.
Finishing the stage in a tightly contested sprint, Loulergue claimed 4th place but expressed disappointment over a minor mishap during the final corner. “I was a bit disappointed,” he shared, “as my pedal struck the ground in the final corner, and I lost some speed.” However, with five top-10 finishes in five stages and a victory in the points classification jersey, Loulergue and his team had much to celebrate.
“I’m still happy with the week we had as a team… it’s encouraging for what’s next,” he added, looking ahead to Liège–Bastogne–Liège. Gannat echoed his enthusiasm, stating, “It was a good week, with five intense days of racing… we’re continuing the strong collective dynamic we’ve had since the start of the season.”
Loulergue’s performance at the Circuit des Ardennes demonstrates not only his potential for future races but also highlights the growing synergy within his team. Fans and followers will undoubtedly be keeping a close eye on him in the upcoming weeks.
