A frustrating conclusion

Tour des Alpes-Maritimes: A Disappointing Finish for Groupama-FDJ Riders

The second stage of the Tour des Alpes-Maritimes proved to be a frustrating conclusion for the Groupama-FDJ riders. Despite the challenging route, the race ultimately came down to a sprint, leaving Romain Grégoire in fifth place and overall seventh, and Quentin Pacher in ninth, all behind the stage and GC winner Benoît Cosnefroy. The race dynamics were not as anticipated, with Benoît Vaugrenard reflecting, “I surely expected more action in the col d’Èze and col de Châteauneuf. In the end, everyone was watching each other, and no one really wanted to pull. It was weird.”

The stage included significant climbs, but the peloton remained intact for much of the race, prompting surprise from Grégoire, who expressed, “I didn’t expect a race like this at all.” Despite tactical efforts and attempts to break away, the race ultimately concluded in a sprint, leaving the Groupama-FDJ riders disappointed.

Following the two days of racing, Grégoire and Pacher finished seventh and ninth overall respectively, expressing their frustration with the outcome. Benoît noted, “We were there, but it was still a high level, and it was difficult to make any gaps. Today, you needed to have a good sprint. We’re still disappointed because we didn’t come here to take a top 10.”

The race’s unexpected turn of events left the Groupama-FDJ team with a sense of frustration and disappointment as they reflect on the strategic challenges they faced.