A successful week in the Czech Republic
# A Glorious Week for “La Conti” Groupama-FDJ at the West Bohemia Tour
The “La Conti” Groupama-FDJ cycling team showcased impressive skill and determination during the recent West Bohemia Tour, achieving a commendable overall second. Their week was punctuated by standout performances, including Reef Roberts’ stage victory on Day Two, securing them not only third place overall but also the best young rider jersey, thanks to the outstanding efforts of the New Zealander.
On Saturday, following Roberts’ success in the U23 category, the team faced the toughest stage of the tour. “There was 2,700 metres of elevation and an 8-kilometre climb averaging 6.5% after 45 kilometres,” explained sports director Jérôme Gannat. The strategic aim was to position as many riders as possible in the early breakaway to gain an advantage before the ascent. However, early competition for bonus seconds put Roberts at a disadvantage, causing him to momentarily lose his podium position.
Titouan Fontaine managed to escape into a four-man break ahead of the climb, gaining a minute’s lead. “The pace was moderate in the first part of the climb, but very fast in the second,” added Gannat. Ultimately, the breakaway was caught, and a lead group formed featuring Reef, Rémi, and Baptiste, alongside about twenty others. An attempt by Rémi Daumas to chase another breakaway fell short, leading to a hectic sprint finish in Klatovy. “Town finishes in the Czech Republic are unique, with quite a few turns and some cobblestones,” noted Gannat. Roberts finished 23rd, slipping down the standings and losing his white jersey.
As the final stage approached, hopes were high for a less challenging course around Plzeň. “The goal was to be in the breakaway, because we knew a bunch sprint was coming, and we didn’t have the riders to compete in those circumstances,” stated Gannat. Baptiste joined an early move, but soon a counterattack saw Titouan leading a group of seven riders away from the peloton. However, just as momentum built, a significant crash involving nearly twenty riders halted the race.
After an hour of neutralization and following the return of emergency services, the race resumed. “There was a new start, and Baptiste again joined the breakaway with four riders,” recalled Gannat. The gap grew to 2’40 before closing rapidly in the final stretch, leading to a likely sprint finish.
Despite an improvement, Roberts could only manage a tenth-place finish in the sprint. However, the day brought unexpected good news; the New Zealander reclaimed third place overall and the white jersey after a competitor withdrew due to injury. “We’re mostly satisfied to win the team classification,” Gannat shared. “It’s all the more satisfying because we had chosen to take the start, even though we only lined up four riders out of six.”
The West Bohemia Tour proved to be a pivotal event for “La Conti” in this second part of the U23 season. Each cyclist demonstrated their capabilities, with Titouan’s strong performance in the prologue and Rémi’s top-15 finish standing out as highlights. The week ended with newfound confidence, accolades, and valuable racing experience under their belts.
