Brieuc Rolland and Rémy Rochas gaining momentum
# Rise of Brieuc Rolland and Rémy Rochas in the Giro d’Italia
As the Giro d’Italia intensified over the weekend, the competition heated up, showcasing some promising talent from the French contingent. Two demanding summit finishes followed by a dynamic stage through the Marche region highlighted the challenges faced by cyclists as they navigated the early phases of this prestigious race. While Jonas Vingegaard dominated, claiming victory in relatively straightforward scenarios, young riders like Brieuc Rolland and Rémy Rochas seized their chance to make an impact.
During stage 7, Vingegaard’s team skillfully controlled the race to set him up for a pivotal moment atop Blockhaus. “On our side, we wanted to ride for Josh,” stated Frédéric Guesdon, the team’s director. Guesdon expressed the intention to support Josh Kench, a first-time Grand Tour participant, ensuring he was well-positioned for the climb. Despite facing challenges, including enduring rain and fatigue from the week’s racing, Kench held on for a respectable finish. Guesdon added, “Still, the guys worked really well for him, especially Brieuc and Rémy, who even waited for him. That actually motivated them for the following day’s stage, which suited them well.”
The next day, the race took a turn towards Fermo, where a breakaway was anticipated to contend for the stage win. Guesdon elaborated on the team’s strategy: “The objective was obviously to get up the road, but it wasn’t easy because there were 100 kilometers of flat roads at the start.”
Brieuc and Rémy took bold strides, bridging to a leading group that was ultimately challenged by a strong three-man breakaway. “Rémy repeatedly tried to relaunch attacks and pull turns, sacrificing himself for Brieuc,” recounted Guesdon. Although Rolland narrowly missed a top-10 finish by just seconds, his performance, alongside Rochas, reflected positively on their current form.
The following stage was significantly less intricate, leading to the final climb at Corno alle Scale. Guesdon acknowledged the competitive nature of the race: “We quickly understood that the favorites wanted to fight it out for the stage win.” Ultimately, Rémy secured a commendable 25th place, while Kench improved his overall standing to 29th.
Despite the ongoing challenges, Guesdon remains optimistic about their prospects in the coming days. “We’re still lacking a bit of finishing touch on this Giro, but we’ve found a strong Rémy again, a strong Brieuc, and everyone is still here and healthy,” he commented. The team is focused on aiming for a top 10, or even a top 5 with Rémi, looking to capitalize on their momentum as they approach the later stages of the race. “It only takes one!” Guesdon concluded, emphasizing their resolve to pursue victory in each stage ahead.
