Another double Top 10 in Franche-Comté
# Groupama-FDJ United Seals Another Top 10 Finish in Franche-Comté
In an electrifying finale to the Franche-Comté cycling weekend, the Groupama-FDJ United Cycling Team secured a commendable presence at the Tour du Jura, mirroring their performance from the day before in Besançon. At the stunning summit of Mont Poupet, Guillaume Martin-Guyonnet and Clément Braz Afonso clinched sixth and seventh places, respectively, after a competitively charged race, with American rider Matthew Riccitello taking home the victory.
Following the cancellation of the Tour du Doubs this year, the weekend concluded on Saturday with the notorious Mont Poupet climb—stretching 4 km at an 8% gradient—marking the decisive ascent for the fourth consecutive year. The route was particularly demanding, featuring 3,000 meters of elevation gain, making it a prime opportunity for aggressive racing.
“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, Groupama-FDJ United’s director. “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.” The team took a strategic approach, allowing other squads to manage the race until around 40 kilometers remained.
On the challenging Thésy climb (3.5 km at 9%), the team’s Tom Donnenwirth and Rémy Rochas broke the peloton apart. “The idea was good,” Bricaud noted, “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].”
As the race progressed, about 30 riders regrouped, including Martin-Guyonnet, Afonso, and Clément Berthet, who had 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,” Bricaud stated. “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.”
Just before reaching Mont Bouquet, two riders managed to break away, joining the last survivor of an early break. Despite only holding a 20-second lead over a group of fifteen riders, including Martin-Guyonnet and Afonso, the duo was ultimately unable to keep up with the competition on the ascent. “The top three from yesterday broke away again today, then it came down to a battle between eight or nine riders behind,” Bricaud reflected.
In the end, Martin-Guyonnet finished sixth, while Afonso took seventh. “We are where we belong over the weekend,” Bricaud 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.”
