He had been around for three years, and finally, Lewis Askey experienced the long -awaited consecration. Until then, subscribed to the places of honor, the 24-year-old Briton was pocketed his very first professional victory this Thursday on the L’Aulne loops, all after an event greatly animated by his teammates, and in particular by Valentin Madouas up to six terminals of the goal. Thanks to a lightning acceleration 500 meters from the line, in the slightly climb arrival in Châteaulin, the former of “La Conti” left his competitors on the spot and could celebrate his success a few meters in front of the rest of the peloton. The big Breton weekend is superbly launched.
It was therefore in Châteaulin that the peloton had an appointment this Thursday to launch a completely Breton weekend. Before the Tour du Finistère, the Grand Prix du Morbihan and the Tro Bro Léon, it was the loops of the Alder who were looming in front of the runners, on a slightly bumpy route decomposed in two main circuits: a “large” (20 km) including the rise of the Ménez Quelc’h (2 km to 7%), and a reduced nine terminals to cover seven times. A dozen passages by the finish line, drawn in an ascending portion, also came to spice up the test of the day, whose departure was nevertheless proven rather calm behind a breakaway of five men well mastered by Eddy Le Huitouze. “We had two options this morning, exhibited Frédéric Guesdon. Valentin was very motivated, he came out of the Revanchard Ardennes, so the first option was to harden the race so that there are everywhere and that he could express himself. This is what we did, even if we kept an option on the sprint with Lewis and Tom ”. “I had really cut after the classics, it was my recovery race and the briefing was more oriented on Valentin, with the goal of hardening the race, which was not necessarily ideal for me”, confirmed Lewis Askey.
“I hate having regrets”, Lewis Askey
Hostilities thus started in the fourth and last ascent of the Ménez someone, nearly 70 terminals of the line, where Valentin Madouas sparked an attack, taking with him six men, before being joined by Tom Donnwirth and a few other runners thereafter. “They did not want to indulge in front of in front because we were still far from the arrival and there were still many team members to roll, reported Frédéric. So it came home, but it still tired the organizations and the race was not over. Even if the bumps were less hard on the final circuit, there was the possibility of trying something, and that is what happened. Brieuc went to the forefront, Clément too, and there were a lot of movements until arrival ”. Clément Braz Afonso was able to lead the race with four runners for around twenty kilometers, until the last two rounds of the circuit approach. Olivier Le Gac and Brieuc Rolland then highlighted, but at the beginning of the last loop around Châteaulin, it was the former French champion who played his all. “For Valentin, it was the last chance to be able to go outcompleted Frédéric. He tried, he was strong, and it was seen because he came out on his own. He was caught up but I think he hurt many teammates behind. ”
The Brestois was taken over six kilometers and it was a peloton finally still expanded which took the direction of the finish line, located after a ascending kilometer. “After spending the hardest, I told the headset that I felt very well, I asked if I could try my luck in the sprint, and I was told yesreported Lewis. The guys really did a good job for me to be well placed at the last turn. ” After being reassembled by Clément Braz Afonso and Olivier Le Gac, the Briton was thus able to start the portion of climb in the first three positions. “I saw that there was already a little gap at the end of the turn, I felt good and I said to myself: it’s now or never, continued Lewis. I knew I could hold, so I went there, and I saw that I immediately took a gap. I hadn’t imagined doing this at all, but I felt the race. I hate having regrets, wait, then tell me that I should have done this or that ”. Thanks to a sharp attack almost 500 meters from the goal, the Groupama-FDJ runner immediately distanced himself from his competitors. “In a strong sprint like today, it’s not all to start, you also have to hold on, and that’s what he managed to do”, resumed Frédéric. “As soon as you see the 300 -meter panels, 200 meters, it’s easier to endure the suffering”, slipped Lewis.
“I was afraid that she never arrives”, Lewis Askey
This is how after a final memorable kilometer, the young Englishman was able to raise his arms in the air and savor, in the nose and the beard of the peloton, his very first victory among professionals. “I went close to victory several times, and I was afraid that it never happens, he confided. I am extremely happy to finally succeed in obtaining it today. It’s great and it’s less pressure. Everyone told me that the first victory could unlock things. I’m waiting to see, but I hope (smiles) ”. “Lewis made a very beautiful start to the season, was placed a few times, but he fell ill at the time of the Tour of Flanders and Paris Roubaix, Added Frédéric. He could not express himself as he wished on races he loves. He starts a second cycle after his cut, and he does it in the most beautiful way. He was revolving around victory from his first professional year, so it’s amply deserved ”. The Groupama-FDJ cycling team also hung its fifth bouquet of the season, after a very successful collective race. “Everyone did a very good job, starting with Eddy who did the first part of the race, assured Frédéric. The seven runners really played the game. We never missed a blow, we were actors from start to finish, and it’s perfect when it ends like that. The weekend is ideally launched ”.
