Jean-Loup Fayolle 2nd of the Paris-Vierzon classic

Race reportSep 21, 2024

Women TeamTour de la Semois

Jean-Loup Fayolle and Lucas Janssen finished 2nd and 3rd respectively in Paris-Vierzon, after the ARKEA-B&B HOTELS team pulled out all the stops with around 70 kilometres to go.

Jean-Loup Fayolle

We had planned a coup de force in the most difficult part of the course. We found ourselves with 4 riders from the ARKEA-HOTELS team at the front in a breakaway of 10-15 riders. In the final, we took it in turns to outnumber them. I took advantage of a small ‘cleat’ on the circuit in Vierzon to attack. We went out at 2 and created a gap. I knew I wasn't the fastest, so I did what I could but I couldn't beat my rival. I'm happy with today's race personally and collectively. It wasn't my favourite terrain but it's a good experience to take in; and then the ARKEA-B&B HOTELS team manoeuvred well all day. There aren't too many regrets.

Léonard Cosnier

Directeur sportif

The objective of the day wasn't to take care of the breakaway, filtering out the attacks and then controlling the rear. We had to be patient. We had pointed to kilometre 110 to attempt a coup de force. The whole ARKEA-B&B HOTELS team did what it had planned to do and caught up with the breakaway. The only rider missing was Hugh Harvey, who I'd like to congratulate because he'd done a hell of a job pulling the peloton along on the flat. The leading group broke away again with 40 kilometres to go. There were around ten of them in front, including 4 riders from the ARKEA-B&B HOTELS team. In the final, we attacked one after the other. Jean-Loup Fayolle went out with another rider. The gap increased and the team didn't ride behind. He tried to make the most of his chances but couldn't beat his rival in a two-man sprint. Lucas Janssen settled the group sprint for 3rd place. We came here to win, so when you finish 2nd and 3rd, you're bound to be a little disappointed. But we have to salute the way they behaved. We ‘had the sign’, we took on the weight of the race and our young riders took responsibility when they had to.

Our latest news

Maxime Bouet: "rely on our collective to finish in style"
PresentationOct 5, 2024
Development TeamIl Lombardia U23
Thibault Guernalec: “Stay vigilant”
PresentationOct 3, 2024
World Team TeamMunsterland Giro
Gael Le Bellec: “A very specific journey”.
NewsOct 3, 2024
Women TeamGiro dell'Emilia Donne
Mickaël Leveau: "A good race on a collective level"
Race reportOct 1, 2024
World Team TeamWomen TeamBinche - Chimay - Binche

All news