We were expecting him in the time trial, it was finally in the online event that Rémi Cavagna won the title of French champion this weekend in Épinal (Vosges).
In complicated weather conditions, including heavy rain at the end of the race, the Deceuninck Quick-Step rider was able to savor this victory by crossing the finish line alone, after launching an attack about fifteen kilometers away. of arrival.
🚴 Auvergnat Rémi Cavagna (Deceuninck-Quick Step) wins the title of solo champion of France!
Clever, he let go of his breakaway companions in the technical part of the Spinalien circuit to afford the tricolor jersey # Epinal2021 @FFCyclisme @deceuninck_qst pic.twitter.com/TzXJXuOw1X
- France tv sport (@francetvsport) June 20, 2021
“I attacked and it did!
"
“I don't realize at all.
My goal was the time trial where I was the favorite.
Certainly, the circumstances played a role but I took a real slap.
(…) There were only three of us but we had a great team with Julian Alaphilippe and Florian Sénéchal.
I was a little hot during the race, but I felt good, I attacked and it did!
», Declared Cavagna at the microphone of France Televisions, warmly congratulated by his teammates.
Rémi Cavagna was part of the day's breakaway, which took shape on the second lap, more than 200 km from the finish.
Pierre Rolland (B&B Hotels), Mathieu Ladagnous (Groupama-FDJ) or even Warren Barguil (Arkéa-Samsic) were there at the time.
The favorites of the day, including Alaphilippe, Martin and Gaudu, really energized the race 35 km from the finish but ultimately never entered the breakaway.
Just back from the Tour of Italy, the Auvergnat should skip the Grande Boucle.
“I don't think I'm on the Tour de France,” he added at the end of the race.
As for Thomas Voeckler, the coach of the France Team, he implied that Rémi Cavagna will be traveling to Tokyo, on the occasion of the Olympic Games.
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Victim of mechanical problems, the “Clermont-Ferrand TGV” had to settle for 23rd place in the time trial on Thursday, won by Benjamin Thomas (Groupama-FDJ).
At 25, Cavagna succeeds Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ), too fair today, and wins his first blue-white-red jersey in this event, a little less than a year after his victory over the against the -shows.
Rudy Molard (Groupama-FDJ) and Damien Touzé (AG2R-Citroën) completed the podium, nearly a minute behind the winner of the day.