Thibaud Gruel just misses the podium in Plumelec
# Thibaud Gruel Falls Just Short of Podium in Plumelec
In a thrilling showdown at the Grand Prix du Morbihan this Saturday, Thibaud Gruel showcased his impressive sprinting talent, finishing fourth after a grueling 190-kilometre race. The event culminated in an uphill sprint on the notorious Cadoudal climb, where Gruel positioned himself perfectly but ultimately missed the podium.
Competing in Brittany for the seventh round of the FDJ United Series, riders faced a challenging route that included tackling the Cadoudal climb (1.9 km at 5.6%) 13 times, with eight of those climbs occurring in the closing circuit. “We anticipated quite a controlled race scenario, especially given the start list,” noted Benoît Vaugrenard, reflecting on the team’s strategy. “However, we knew there could be some moves with three or four laps to go. That’s exactly what happened, and we couldn’t afford to get caught out. Tom [Donnenwirth] reacted well.”
As the race unfolded, Donnenwirth initiated an attack with three laps remaining, but the pack quickly regained control. “It returned to a classic scenario, with some teams controlling things for a sprint finish,” Vaugrenard explained. With speed becoming crucial in the final lap, positioning was key. “Tom had to position Thibaud and Rudy, who were our two protected riders, and the job was done really well.”
Approaching the final stretch, Gruel found himself in a promising position, but misfortune struck when teammate Rudy Molard was pushed to the roadside, leaving Gruel to contend alone. Entering the last corner in fourth place, Gruel pushed hard but finished just outside the top three. “He lost a little bit of speed in Venturini’s slipstream, but I don’t think he made any mistakes,” Vaugrenard commented. “He produced a really good sprint. Last year, he came away frustrated because he had sat up. He had revenge to take, and he did what he needed to do.”
While disappointment lingered for not claiming a podium spot, Vaugrenard remained optimistic: “We knew victory would be difficult to achieve, but we were aiming for the top three. We were very close, but there are no regrets. For Thibaud, it’s very encouraging for what’s to come, especially with an important month of racing ahead of him. It’s good for morale to be in the mix. The only regret is Rudy’s incident. I think a place in the top ten was clearly within his reach.”
Looking ahead, the Groupama-FDJ United cycling team is set to tackle the Tro Bro Leon on Sunday, eager for a stronger showing and the opportunity to build on Gruel’s performance.
